{"id":5421,"date":"2010-12-10T13:10:10","date_gmt":"2010-12-10T20:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=5421"},"modified":"2010-12-11T15:53:01","modified_gmt":"2010-12-11T22:53:01","slug":"want-a-wonderful-life-then-start-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=5421","title":{"rendered":"Want a wonderful life?  Then start NOW."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/svapm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/wonderfullife.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-5449\" src=\"https:\/\/svapm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/wonderfullife.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"75\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a>[Second part of two-part series]\n<p>Whether we project managing our work projects, our careers, our finances or our personal relationships, the concept of focusing on what can be done &#8220;NOW&#8221; to improve our situation is critical.\u00a0 This is the second part of a two-part series.\u00a0 Hope you enjoy it.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Body example at age 25:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What do I want to be when I grow up?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I\u2019m young.\u00a0 I\u2019ll live forever.\u00a0 I can eat and do whatever.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What can I do <strong>NOW <\/strong>to assure that I continue to have a wonderful life?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I\u2019m in great shape.\u00a0 In high school I learned early to take good care of my body.\u00a0 I was heavy into various sports and wanted to keep my body fit.\u00a0 I take in the proper portions of things.\u00a0 I avoid heavy drinking, smoking or drugs.\u00a0 I keep a good exercise, toning and aerobic balance.\u00a0 I still play sports and go out dancing.\u00a0 My recreational time isn\u2019t artificially generated; it comes from within.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"> Body example at age 35:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What do I want to be when I grow up?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I&#8217;ve put on some weight.\u00a0 Everyone does.\u00a0 Probably because of the beer.\u00a0 But my job and family life is bothersome.\u00a0 I need the recreational drink to get through.\u00a0 I know I need to do something about my body and health \u2013 but I don\u2019t have any time to go to the gym or workout.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What can I do <strong>NOW <\/strong>to assure that I continue to have a wonderful life?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I feel pretty wonderful.\u00a0 I\u2019ve kept good eating and exercise habits.\u00a0 My family shares the same thoughts about a healthy lifestyle so it\u2019s been very easy to stay on track.\u00a0 My family is wonderful.\u00a0 Although I don\u2019t go out and play as much organized sports as I used to \u2013 I\u2019ve blended many new choices into my busy schedule.\u00a0 I am more involved in my children\u2019s sports.\u00a0 I coach and practice their sports with them.\u00a0 As a family, we ride our bikes together.\u00a0 I do much of my office networking in the corporate gym.\u00a0 I arrange to take walking breaks with my mentors either around the office or around the lake area.\u00a0 I also find excuses to walk \u2013 by either parking a few block away from my destination, walking to the corner store for those few items, walking the dog with the family, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"> Body example at age 45:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What do I want to be when I grow up?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I can\u2019t seem to do the things I used to do.\u00a0 I\u2019ve lost my job.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have money for a gym membership.\u00a0 I have to stay focused in making some money and spending less.\u00a0 The cheaper food items like pasta and cheap fast foods fit better in my financial situation than anything else.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What can I do <strong>NOW <\/strong>to assure that I continue to have a wonderful life?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Starting a new company is challenging on both my funds and my time.\u00a0 As I am getting older, my body metabolism is slowing down.\u00a0\u00a0 So it\u2019s even more important to stay active and be aware of the chemicals or type of fuel I put into my body.\u00a0 I read that it\u2019s better to reduce my meal size, but supplement with various healthy fruits and nuts during the day to keep my metabolism burning throughout the day.\u00a0 My family is having fun planting our own fresh vegetables and fruits.\u00a0 And I will be downsizing my meal size, and adding some small snack portions.\u00a0\u00a0 Even though my caloric intake will be reduced, I\u2019ll be eating something every 2-3 hours.\u00a0 Although I was able to eat anything when I was younger (because of my metabolism), I\u2019m be aware that processed foods are not the best fuel for my body at this age.\u00a0 I\u2019ll continue to increase my physical activities by incorporating my family as well as my new business networking groups.\u00a0 I\u2019ll make a point to have networking business meetings around an activity like walking, the gym, or hobby like golf, tennis, racket ball, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"> Relationship example at age 25:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What do I want to be when I grow up?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I\u2019m in my new place but don\u2019t have any friends.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t wait to get out of my parents\u2019 house \u2013but now I am lonely.\u00a0\u00a0 I can go to bars and pick-up friends.\u00a0 That will help with the loneliness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What can I do <strong>NOW <\/strong>to assure that I continue to have a wonderful life?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Even though I am starting a new job in a new state, I am going to keep in touch with my past friends.\u00a0 Facebook and social media makes that very easy.\u00a0\u00a0 I will be making new friends at the office as well.\u00a0 I will be aware of the risk of mixing business with pleasure \u2013 and will be careful.\u00a0 I will also keep an eye out for new friends as I pursue the things that I love.\u00a0 When pursuing things that interest me, I will cross paths with folks of similar interest.\u00a0 And that will make for good friendships.\u00a0 If I keep doing the things I enjoy (at work, at play, at life), I will attract more things that fit my wonderful life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"> Relationship example at age 35:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What do I want to be when I grow up?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>My spouse and children have left me.\u00a0 Everything I\u2019ve work for is now gone.\u00a0 .\u00a0 All our friends are now HER friends.\u00a0 I have to start all over again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What can I do <strong>NOW <\/strong>to assure that I continue to have a wonderful life?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>My spouse and children are all growing into their own.\u00a0 My spouse recently went through a \u201cmid-career-crisis\u201d period and is pursuing some of his\/her own separate business interests.\u00a0\u00a0 We\u2019re not growing apart \u2013 but we are expanding as a couple.\u00a0 It is interesting to watch my spouse develop into a strong entrepreneur.\u00a0 Even though the home-business is small and more like a hobby at this stage \u2013 we\u2019ve been able to make it work.\u00a0 We\u2019ve agreed that while my spouse is exploring with this business, he\/she will be the primary care-giver to the children.\u00a0 But I also realize that this home-business and taking care of the children is a full-time job.\u00a0 So when I am at home, we\u2019ll split the chores and make it work.\u00a0 If things don\u2019t get accomplished, then it\u2019s not a big deal.\u00a0 The extra home-business income also helps with the extras in life.\u00a0 Life is good.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"> Relationship example at age 45:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What do I want to be when I grow up?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>My second spouse has left me.\u00a0 I can\u2019t keep a relationship.\u00a0\u00a0 What\u2019s wrong with me.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What can I do <strong>NOW <\/strong>to assure that I continue to have a wonderful life?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Starting a new company is challenging but my spouse\u2019s experience has proven invaluable.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been able to incorporate both companies.\u00a0 Its lots of fun being partners in this adventure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>You can get here from there. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even though everyone\u2019s definition of a wonder life is different, we all know what a wonderful life feels like. \u00a0\u00a0A wonderful life feels joyous, happy, and full of appreciation.\u00a0 So \u2013 if we continue to live each day with the purpose of feeling joyous, happy, and appreciative \u2013 we\u2019ll have a wonderful life.<\/p>\n<p>But how do I transition from the depressed, no money, no family life version to the \u201cwonderful life\u201d version?\u00a0 Well, maybe we can\u2019t get to \u201cwonderful life\u201d right away.\u00a0 But we can certainly get to \u201ca better life\u201d quickly.<\/p>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So focusing on \u201cWhat do I do now to have a better life\u201d is a great transitional question.\u00a0 It does two important things.\u00a0 It validates that we\u2019re at east with where we are today.\u00a0 And it helps us continue to excitedly anticipate our next steps.\u00a0 Both these steps are important aspects to attracting more exciting.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take one more look at the following scenario and see how we can turn it around (no matter where we are).<\/p>\n<p>Body example at age 45:<\/p>\n<p>What do I want to be when I grow up?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I can\u2019t seem to do the things I used to do.\u00a0 I\u2019ve lost my job.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have money for a gym membership.\u00a0 I have to stay focused in making some money and spending less.\u00a0 The cheaper food items like pasta and cheap fast foods fit better in my financial situation than anything else.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What can I do <strong>NOW <\/strong>to have a better life?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I could be in better shape.\u00a0 I have time to put some inexpensive exercise programs into my daily routines.\u00a0 Walking and toning exercises don\u2019t need to be done in a gym.\u00a0 Getting into some league.\u00a0 Planting my own vegetables and fruits will save me money as well as healthy lifestyle.\u00a0 Cutting down on the alcohol and smoking will help my financial situation and allow me to afford healthy fuel for my body.\u00a0 I\u2019m feeling more energized and confident as my body is positively responding to my new healthier lifestyle.\u00a0 I feel that my new positive attitude is contagious.\u00a0 My spouse is noticing my new physique and positive attitude. \u00a0\u00a0My family is joining me in my healthy lifestyle and exercise program.\u00a0 I\u2019m taking more interest in their individual self-improvement projects as well.\u00a0 \u00a0My confidence is proving positive in my interviews.\u00a0 My life is beginning to turn around.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So, it may not be critical to know \u201cfor sure\u201d what you want to be when you grow up.<\/p>\n<p>Who&#8217;s to say we&#8217;re even supposed to \u201cgrow up\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>Maybe we\u2019re just supposed to \u201c<em>grow naturally<\/em>\u201d (i.e. \u201c<strong>grow toward our nature<\/strong>\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<strong>Growing toward our nature<\/strong>\u201d should be pretty easy because (by definition) it&#8217;s already inherent in us.\u00a0 We just continue to follow the path or the thought that feels better.\u00a0 As we follow that better feeling path, we feel better and better and better and finally wonderful!<\/p>\n<p>While these are just example, I hope they give you some ideas on how to take better advantage of what is happening NOW to lay a positive ground work for a wonder life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether we project managing our work projects, our careers, our finances or our personal relationships, the concept of focusing on what can be done &#8220;NOW&#8221; to improve our situation is critical.  This is the second part of a two-part series.  Hope you enjoy it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1508,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,1,854,855,847,849],"tags":[195,39,13,33,64,167,110,17],"class_list":["post-5421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-communications","category-miscellaneous","category-pmbok-process-planning","category-pmbok-process-executing","category-self-leadership","category-team-leadership","tag-accountability","tag-best-practices","tag-career-development","tag-common-sense","tag-communication","tag-continuous-improvement","tag-getting-things-done","tag-lessons-learned"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1508"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5421"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5421\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}