May 2008 Archives

THERE are a lot of quotes that can help push us to do better. Perhaps there are a million quotes that talk about going beyond your comfort zone, reaching for the stars, doing your best. Of those many quotes, a few will connect with you deeply. And those few that you gravitate to the most are the ones you will probably commit to memory. This is the quotable quote that I always recall when I need a little booster:

“You can decide to be two types of people. You can be ordinary or you can be extraordinary. The only difference between those two words is extra. If you do extra, you can be extraordinary. If you don’t want an extraordinary life, just stop doing extra.” -- Steve Harvey

Ordinary vs extraordinary. That one word isn't only a five-letter difference, but one that creates a huge impact when acted on. How have you become extraordinary today?

BEFORE you throw out old magazines, grab a pair of scissors and go through the pages again. When you spot an image or article that interests you, cut it out. Is that print ad on a Mediterranean cruise appealing to you? Do those arms of Jessica Alba's make you wish yours were as toned? What about that new laptop you want so bad but is currently out of your budget? Cut, cut, cut! When you've got your cut-outs, organize them in a way that you can always see them. Ideas are to prepare a journal dedicated to all these cut-outs, stick them on your ref door or have a special area in your work desk for those images. What are these for then? These are your dream cut-outs. These could be the things you dream of having, experiences you wish would come soon. By having them near you, by being reminded of them, you may somehow work for them subconsciously. Better yet, actively work on those dreams. The "Field of Dreams" famous quote is, "If you build it, they will come." In this case, if you visualize it, they will come to you too. Take a look at your dream images everyday. Visualize yourself having them already. This visualization exercise can help you realize that you could be steps away from achieving these things and experiences. Sometimes it's as simple as being reminded of them, so that we don't lose our way claiming them while we go about our every day.

"PLEASE get ready for the morning exercise," the student's sleepy voice would say through the gymnasium's speakers. My schoolmates and I would assemble at the gym every morning at 7.30 to sing the national anthem and morning prayers, and do the morning exercise. Why, we would silently wail, why do we have to do this so early in the morning? My exercise grunts were just met by stern glares from the teachers. Perhaps if Elle Woods of "Legally Blonde" had been my classmate, I would have better appreciated that "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy." As I aged though, I did learn the value of exercise. In the beginning, it was for vanity reasons. My metabolism was slowing down, and I had to stay fit to look fit. And then there was the health reason. I knew my sedentary lifestyle was taking a toll on my health, so I hit the gym. My friends would also exercise to tone their bodies, make new friends at fitness centers, lose weight. Valid motivations. But have you ever heard of anyone saying, "I exercise to be happy"? Think about it. After a workout, you feel a certain high. I can describe it as a mix of relief ("Good thing I got my butt off the computer chair.") and pride ("Good thing I got my butt off the computer chair!"). There's that emotional boost, that spark of happiness brought about by a job well done and I guess, endorphins. Perhaps that's a good push to start exercising again. We know we'll feel better after a workout. So why not use happiness as your end goal? When you see you're ten pounds less, you're happy. When your skin glows after a workout, you're happy. When you're able to run an extra lap, you're happy. Happy, happy, happy. Why not kick the morning off with some happy movements, and turn those exercise grunts into grins? Get that butt off your chair and move to be happy!