Harvey, Jason - Achieve Anything In Just One Year - Be Inspired Daily to Live Your Dreams and Accomplish Your Goals

DAY

58

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.”

— Samuel Johnson

Eleven days ago you explored Dale Carnegie’s six ways to make people like you. You discovered during that lesson that your efforts to make people like you are in vain if you are not sincere. Today you will have another chance to practice compassion toward others.

There are so many ways to measure success, but one of the most enduring examples is your interaction with those around you. You must develop a real interest in others. It’s a waste of time to go through the motions. You have to mean it. Look around you today and follow that old rule of treating others as you would like to be treated. Today you will come into contact with a number of people. Each one of them has their own story, their own obstacles, and their own triumphs. What can you do to treat them well? How can you make their day better?

Practice helping others without expecting anything in return. Do not underestimate the difference you make when you do something nice for someone who can do absolutely nothing for you in return. Every positive action you take on behalf of others builds your power and influence. You are creating an atmosphere of respect and love, and that is an incredibly rich environment for success.

Your assignment today is to give all your attention to others. Treat those around you as if they are unique and very special to you, because they are. Do not even entertain the thought of what you might get in return.

DAY

59

“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.”

— Alice Walker

Are you a good observer? It is a crucial tool for success, but it comes in several parts. You must observe what is going on around you, but you also need to have an appreciation for what your five senses pick up.

When was the last time you noticed the color purple in a field? Have you recently stopped to savor the smell of a hot meal before diving in? What does your lover’s hand feel like when you hold it in your own? Can you appreciate the fascinating melody of children laughing, or does the sound simply annoy you? Do you relish the hot, strong taste of your first cup of coffee in the morning?

Your assignment today has three parts:

1. Stop.

2. Notice.

3. Appreciate.

Stop for a moment. Stop running through your life as if it is a race, and the first one to the finish line wins. Next, look around and use your five senses to take in your environment. Finally, appreciate everything you notice. You are part of a very intricate and wonderful world. Find some gratitude in your heart for the gifts that surround you.

DAY

60

“Think what you feel, say what you think, do what you say, feel what you do.”

— Eric L. Mott

Today’s quote is the first in a series that will delve deeper into aspects of personal responsibility. If you look a little closer, you will find it is a circular guide to living a successful life.

Let’s break it down. The first part of the quote is think what you feel. That has to do with authenticity. Think about what you truly feel about your life. Are you living the life you want to live? Are you allowing your true feelings to surface, or are you masking them in some way?

The second part of the circle is say what you think. This section deals with honesty. Do you say what you think? Or do you spend a lot of time trying to figure out and say what people want to hear? Where do you score on the honesty meter?

The third portion of the circle is do what you say. It is imperative to have integrity in your life. Can you be counted on? Do you follow up on what you say you will do, or do you usually find excuses to get out of a promise?

The final part that brings the quote full circle is feel what you do. Practice mindfulness in all areas of your life. Do you experience life, or are you numb to what goes on around you and how you influence the world?

Your assignment today is to write down this quote on a sticky note or a piece of paper and keep it with you at all times. Take it out and ponder it whenever you get a chance. It will become a cornerstone for your work the next few days.

DAY

61

“We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity.”

— Barbara De Angelis

Living an authentic life takes courage. You are presented with opportunities to veer off your true path every single day, and one of the hardest things to do is say no to those temptations.

You are not a feather floating aimlessly in the wind. You have a purpose in this life, and you are in control of achieving your destiny. Do you know what it is? Are you living an authentic life right now, or are you allowing people or things to distract you from your true identity and purpose?

Your assignment today is twofold. First, spend some time writing in your journal this morning. Write honestly about your dreams and desires for your life. Do not be afraid to put down on paper what you really want to achieve. Try very hard not to limit yourself. Let the truth come to the surface. What do you feel destined to do? You do not need to worry at this point about how you will achieve success. Just keep writing with truth in your heart, and you will begin to rediscover your authentic self.

The next part of your assignment is to practice saying no. You have uncovered some of your dreams. Now, you need to stay on the right path to achieve those dreams. If a person asks you to get involved in something today that you do not feel good about or that you strongly believe will lead you away from your true destiny, say no. The more you unearth your authenticity, the easier it will be for you to respectfully decline the detours.

DAY

62

“Serve others for they are reflections of the same Entity of which you are yourself another reflection. No one of you has any authenticity, except in reference to the Original. Feel always kinship with all creation.”

— Sri Sathya Sai Baba

When you zero in on authenticity, it is easy to become a bit self-absorbed. You are working very hard to discover your authentic self, which means you are concentrating on you. But truthfully, it’s not all about you.

If you want to live an authentic life, you must acknowledge the fact that you are connected to everyone and everything around you. You are not an island. You are part of humanity, and everything you do affects creation.

Think about the statement in this quote that says others are a reflection of the same Entity of which you are yourself a reflection. How do you know you are smart? Because someone outside of yourself has found value in your knowledge. How do you know you are funny? Because you see a smile reflected in a friend’s eyes. How do you know you have been disrespectful? Because you read the rejection on your victim’s face.

When you serve others, you are also serving yourself, because you are inseparable, just like drops of water in the ocean. Look at your reflection in a still pond. It is not you, but it is a part of you. You are similarly a reflection of the elements that surround you. If you serve others, their gratitude will be reflected back to you in various ways. If you reject those around you and disregard their own authenticity, you are setting in motion a ripple that will eventually come back and disrupt your own life.