Raj Daniels

When was the last time you allowed yourself to spend time daydreaming?

Hopefully, it wasn’t too long ago.

Daydreaming has often been relegated to a childish activity, but only by adults who have lost or perhaps forgotten the magic that can occur while daydreaming.

Adults have a tendency to think wandering minds are bad or inefficient, but this is far from the truth. Numerous studies have shown that daydreaming can actually be a sign of an efficient or even intellectual mind. A brain that can process a task quickly will do so and wait for the next task, but if not presented with one might then wander and think about something completely different. And many times, during this wandering is when ideas are born.

If you need further convincing then you might like to know that some of the most important artistic, business and scientific breakthroughs ever made by people like Einstein and many others came about because they allowed their minds to wander.

Daydreaming or giving your mind a break from immediate tasks at hand allows it not only to rest, but also the opportunity to stitch together disparate thoughts and concepts that you might not otherwise do during intense task-oriented thinking.

So the next time you find yourself stuck on a task or between things on your to-do list, instead of moving on to the immediate next thing, give yourself the permission to daydream. Tap into your inner child and let your mind wander. You might just surprise yourself with the creative or inspirational ideas it’ll come back with once it’s done wandering.

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What good deed are you going to do today?

If you haven’t thought of one then now might be a good time to do so.

Just imagine for a moment what the world would look like if all seven billion people committed to doing one good deed a day. Just thinking about it makes me smile.

Your good deed doesn’t have to be something elaborate or time-consuming; sometimes the simplest of acts can mean so much.

Maybe you hold the door open for a person that’s in a hurry, you pick up a piece of litter, or you say some words of encouragement to someone that you think might need to hear them. Whatever good deed you do is totally up to you, just do one.

Yes, I know and understand that your schedule might be full and you might be pressed for time, so I suggest setting a daily reminder for your good deed. You can put it on your calendar, or just write it on a sticky note and put it in a place where you see it on a daily basis.

Engaging in a daily good deed practice might seem trivial, but sometimes the smallest actions have the biggest impact. And just think for a moment how you would feel if everyday someone did a good deed for you. Doesn’t that sound like a world you’d like to live in?

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Do you want to be healthy?

Can you do one pushup or jumping jack?

If yes, do it now,

Yes, right now.

If you can and you don’t then there’s a high likelihood that you won’t, not because you can’t, but you don’t really want too.

Do you want to improve your finances?

Put a dollar into a savings account right now.

That’s right, stop reading and do it right now.

Did you do it?

If you can and you don’t, then…

Yes, you’ve heard it before.

Think about all the things can you do and you don’t, and it’s not because you can’t.

Would you like to improve your relationships?

Call, text, or just tell someone how you feel about them.

Do it right now.

Don’t wait.

Do whatever you can do right now that will move you one step closer to the life you want for yourself.

Don’t worry; this blog post will still be here when you get back. And you will have made progress in your life, so I’m okay even if don’t finish reading it.

If you’re still reading then maybe it’s time to get honest with yourself.

After you’re done reading take out a sheet of paper and draw four columns

In the first column make a list of all the things you think you want to do.  Now label the other three columns, can, can’t, won’t.  Next, read your list and put checkmarks in the appropriate columns.

Here’s where the being honest with yourself really kicks in.

For example, if you really want to improve your health, and you have the ability (can) to take action right now, but you don’t, then put a checkmark in the won’t column and then ask yourself, why not?

What’s holding you back?

If you have the ability, and you don’t take action, well that means that you might really not want to. This might sound a little harsh at first, but it’s not meant to. You see the majority of people have the ability to take at least the smallest action towards whatever it is they think they want out of life, and they think that they’ll take that step later, but they don’t.

What they don’t realize is that there’s something magical about immediate action. The first action or step builds confidence and provides momentum.

Why is momentum so important?

Because it moves you out of your current state. It breaks the inertia, aka a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.

So if you’re still reading and haven’t done that pushup yet, or told someone how you feel about them please do it now. Get out of the won’t column, leverage momentum and start taking small steps towards the life you want.

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Do I have what it takes?

Ask yourself this question and answer it honestly.

If you’re wondering, what it takes for what? Or, it depends then you’re thinking, which is a good sign.

Asking yourself if you have what it takes enables you to set a baseline for yourself. The moment you decide to embark on an endeavor or personal journey, you should begin by taking a personal inventory and the ‘what it takes aka WIT’ question is a great place to start.

If your answer to your WIT question is a resounding yes, then good for you, you can now move forward with confidence. Although I must warn you that if you really are on a new personal journey then rarely do you already have what it takes, because the nature of something being new is that you’ve never experienced it before. Now I’m a big fan of a healthy dose of optimism, but must warn you that things can get a little messy when optimism and reality meet, especially if you’re not prepared.

If your answer to the WIT question is no, then good for you too, in fact, it’s almost better than a yes.

Why is it better?

Because now you’re almost forced to take a personal inventory and in doing so you can begin to acquire the skills and talents that you’re missing. During the process of working on yourself you’ll begin to gain more confidence in your ability to accomplish whatever it is you set out to do. Sprinkle in a little optimism and you’re almost unstoppable.

Now I’m not suggesting that you have to be one hundred percent ready before you move forward on any new endeavor, because that will never be the case and can lead to what’s known as analysis paralysis. What I am saying is just start by asking the WIT question, and begin to work on what you need, because the act of doing so will in itself move you along your journey.

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When was the last time you received a standing ovation?

If you can’t remember then it’s been too long.

Take a pause from reading right here and give yourself a standing ovation.

Here, I’ll join you.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, and clap.

How did that feel?

Feeling appreciated is a lovely feeling and occasionally, instead of waiting for others to appreciate you, you can take a moment to appreciate yourself.

And why shouldn’t you?

You’re the one working your way through the ups and downs of daily living and only you know the experiences you’re feeling, so you deserve to be appreciated.

Now the thought of stopping to appreciate yourself might seem a little awkward at first and it’s because you’re not used to doing so. But that feeling will subside once you develop the habit of self-appreciation.

If you’re still struggling with the idea of appreciating yourself, then perhaps it’s an opportunity for some introspection. And if you can’t or don’t appreciate yourself, how do you really expect others to appreciate you?

Appreciating yourself is nothing to do with being the best or an act to inflate your ego, it’s just about showing a moment of gratitude for yourself.

So as you go through your days and you appreciate or say thank you to those you interact with, say the occasional thank you to yourself too. Believe me when I say you’re worth it.

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Imagine for a moment that you have in your possession every object, relationship and life accoutrement that you’ve ever wanted.

How would your life look and feel?

What would you do next?

If all of your worldly desires were already fulfilled, what would you be motivated to do?

I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but I’ll reiterate just in case you’ve forgotten. The real flavor of life is found in the pursuit of your desires. Yes, eventually holding or experiencing the object or person you covet does deliver a temporary pleasure, but the real stories live in the experiences that you encounter on your journey to your goal.

You might beg to differ, and understandably so, because there can be or should I say will be times when the journey just feels too difficult, and your efforts don’t seem to be fairly rewarded, but the reality is, who are we to judge what is fair or not?

History books are filled with individuals that seemed to have had it all, yet lived lives of misery, especially those that were born with the proverbial ‘silver spoon.’ In fact, it seems as though those with the silver spoon experienced some of the hardest lives because their every need and wants were satisfied and their ‘privileged’ positions made them less resilient to life.

Having it all is fleeting. There’s a point in time that can vary from a minute to days during which you’ll experience the pleasure of your desired object or pleasure, but then that becomes your new normal and the pleasure you felt dissolves like cotton candy on your tongue.

Hopefully, you realize that having everything you’ve ever wanted might not be as wonderful as it sounds, and that the real pleasure and treasure are buried in the experiences you’ll have, and the person you become on the way to fulfilling your desires.

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Do something.

See nothing.

Do something.

See nothing.

Do something.

See nothing.

Do something.

See something.

Very often when you’re working on a personal goal or even a business project you’ll feel as though your efforts are in vain because you’re not seeing any results. And the truth is that at times your results might not be visible. But if you remember, in your fifth-grade science class you learned Newton’s third law -for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So the only way your actions will not result in reactions is if your actions defy the laws of physics.

In the business world, the common names for the period of struggle where progress feels to have stalled are the dip, the trough of despair, disillusionment or sorrow, also the period of resistance.

It’s when you’re going through any one of these phases that the thought of giving up challenges your spirit every day. And just to be clear, there’s nothing wrong with giving up. The best business people and military strategists will tell you that knowing when to quit is half the battle. But just because you give up doesn’t mean that your actions did not yield results, it’s just that they were not the results you were hoping for in the time frame of your needs, wants and/or expectations.

So, if there’s a goal or an endeavor you’re pursuing and you’re not yet seeing the results you need, want or expect then you have to decide whether to continue or not. But know this, the act and feeling of doing something and seeing nothing will be with you in whatever you pursue, and my guess is that the last thing you want to remember yourself as is the person that gave up on everything, because each time you tried something and saw nothing, you quit and walked away.

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How often do you practice the golden rule?

If you’ve forgotten what it is then here’s a reminder. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Sounds simple enough.

But what if I changed it just a little?

What if it said, do unto others as you would have them do unto you and/or your loved ones.

What if the consequences for every good or bad action or thought you had towards another person would now affect not only you, but those you love too?

This change might seem subtle at first, but once you begin to think about it, you’ll quickly come to the conclusion that the repercussions of your actions will continue to travel on for countless generations.

Being or feeling responsible for your own actions is something that you’re probably already used to. But when you begin to realize that there’s a good chance that those you love will also be held responsible for your thoughts and actions then, well the reality is then what?

Do you now change how you act and think towards others?

I can’t help you answer that.

That’s a question you have to wrestle with by yourself.

However, if you ask my opinion I would say that when you hear the word ‘you,’ don’t think of it as you the individual, think of it as ‘you’ the collective. You are you and you are everyone.

This might seem a little difficult at first, but even if you just look at it from a purely biological perspective then you are the accumulation of all your ancestors to date and you are the starting point for all those that will come after you.

So as you go through your day today, think about the golden rule. And as you’re acting and doing towards others, keep in mind that someone you love dearly might be the recipient of your actions and intentions.

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Hi.

I’m life.

This is not the first time we’ve met, or the first time I’ve spoken to you, but it is the first time I’m writing to you.

I’m here to put a stop to some ugly rumors.

Apparently there’s a rumor out there that I get in the way.

You may have heard it said, or you might have even uttered the words yourself, something along the lines of ‘life gets or got in the way.’

Well, I’m here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth.

How could it be true?

I’m the one that gets you wherever you want to go, to do whatever you want to do.

If it wasn’t for me, there would be no you.

I’m your biggest fan, and I kinda hoped you’d be my biggest fan too.

I would never get in your way.

I’ve been holding back all these years because I love you. But today, right now, I have to tell you the truth, just so that we can set the facts straight once and for all.

I don’t get in your way.

You get in your way.

Now I’m not telling you this to hurt your feelings, or to protect my reputation. I’m telling you this because it’s about time you knew the truth.

I’m sorry if you think I’m being too hard on you, and maybe I am, but it’s because I really do love you. I am your friend, your partner, your one and only constant companion on this journey. And since we’re bound together, why don’t we make the most of it.

Let’s make a deal.

When you decide that you want to accomplish something, I will support you with as much energy and strength as you need in order for you to achieve what you want to. I promise to always have your back.

And here’s your side of the deal.

If you decide mid-journey that you no longer want to pursue something you were after, please don’t blame me. Step up and say the words, I decided it’s not what I wanted. This phrase removes the blame from me and places the responsibility back in your hands.

You see, it’s okay for you to change your mind, but when you place the blame on me, well then you’ve done both of us a disservice.

So do we have a deal?

I hope so, because I’m excited to see what we can do together.

Love you forever,

Life

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Where does reality exist?

I’ll give you a moment to think about it.

If you said it exists within you, then you’re correct.

And if you really believe this to be true, then you should be able to change it.

Reality at its core is your perception of the world.

Are there certain laws of nature that are indisputable? Absolutely. But almost everything else you experience is based on how you perceive it to be.

If you don’t believe me or have doubts then let’s play a game.

Just for today, you’re going to imagine that you’re not who you are. You’re going to adopt a new role. Just like in the video games where you can choose a character, do that for yourself today.  Now I understand that a video game character might be a stretch for you so adopt something simple like a police officer or nurse and go through your day as if you were your chosen character.

If you really play along and adopt the traits of the character you chose, you’ll begin to see the world very differently. For example, if you picked the police officer then you’ll begin to notice traffic violations or suspicious activities and many other things that you wouldn’t have noticed as yourself.

Now, this is just one small example of role-playing and changing your perception of reality. The truth is that there are millions of parallel realities going on right now.

Changing how you see yourself, changes your perception of reality and role- playing or more important role changing is a great tool to help you navigate times and situations that are challenging for you. Always keep in mind that that you’re not bound to your current role, and you have the ability to adopt any role that you think will be beneficial to you in any moment.

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What’s the secret to happiness?

What’s the secret to being healthy?

What’s the secret to being wealthy?

What’s the secret to success?

What is that secret sauce and where can you find it?

Well, there’s good news and bad news.

First the bad news.

There is no secret sauce.

But, wait for it.

There is a secret sauce.

No, I haven’t lost my mind quite yet, although by contradicting myself it might seem that way.

You see, the thing is that if you want to achieve any of the aforementioned states of success then you’re going to have to make your own secret sauce. And although you can dig through articles, books, and stories about other people’s successes, ultimately like any great recipe you’re going to have to go through a lot of trial and error before the recipe is just right for you.  

Yes, you can borrow a dash or pinch of ingredients from studying people that have achieved or accomplished what you want to, but ultimately, it’s going to have to be your own unique recipe.

So just like any great chef, get to work on your own secret sauce.

Dash, dab, and sprinkle in all your unique ingredients then whisk away until you create exactly the secret sauce that works for you.

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