May 2012

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While this is an old saying it is still very true today.

If you decide to eat healthy and watch what you consume, it will have a positive impact on your overall wellness and general state.

If you are a parent, you likely tried to do your best when your kids were young and provide them with healthy options to ensure that they are well nourished.

Watching what we put in our bodies can have a tremendous impact in the long run.

For example, if you eat a big bag of salty chips late at night or early afternoon, you may not have the kick in your step that you hope for.

The same is true with what we say and do.

If we fill our minds with “junk”, or things that are deemed unhealthy for us, we too can feel sluggish and lack mojo or performance.

Like a healthy diet, what we put in our minds is a choice. If you allow other people to fill it with negative, pessimistic or hurtful thoughts, you won’t feel too good.

We in turn, must help others put positive thoughts and ideas in their mind.

This may be our kids, close friends, family, or our significant other.

Do we allow people to put doubt in our minds? Are we allowing bad information from getting into our system?

If we are “what we eat”, it is also true that “we are what we think and say.”

Like an unhealthy diet, sometimes you need to remove certain things, or people in your life to avoid consuming things that do you make you, better, stronger, faster, peaceful, or happy.

What we eat is a choice. What we say, think and listen to is also a choice.

“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” -Buddha

“Connecting the Dots of Life’s Journey”

Mike Mack

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“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.” -Peter F. Drucker

Do you know the feeling you get when you plan ahead for something?

It’s filled with optimism, excitement, anticipation, determination and drive.

Some of us may experience this with a vacation. eg. Next winter we plan to go to Kauai and do some kayaking.

We plan with our kids on what their future career might look like. My son Nick has had some very specific goals since he was young. He is on the road to his plan, even though he had to plan ahead for a very long time.

My friend Mike has been planning to take on more formal education, and plans to take his MBA in the fall of 2012.

Some plan to be 90 years old. My buddy Harvey has been planning this for years.

Many people in my circle love their business and plan on growing it a particular size. They create a plan on how they will achieve this objective.

Some focus on health and wellness and plan to take up yoga, meditation and healthy eating and regular exercise….and some actually do it..!

The older I get and hopefully somewhat “wiser” I realize that many of the great and positive things that have occurred in my life were as a result of planning ahead. A main ingredient that goes with planning ahead is your desire and determination to follow through on your plans. Sometimes we simply get too busy to plan ahead and when the time arrives, nothing happened. You must ask yourself the question: Did I actually plan on making this happen?

Here’s a simple example that will hopefully resonate with everyone. If you attend an event and there is open seating, and you really want to get an awesome seat and see the performer, speaker, etc., you would likely plan to arrive earlier than most people. You actually have to plan ahead when doing this, however we see people arrive 5 minutes before the event and they looked surprised that all the good seats are gone. (Was that not expected?)

The key to planning ahead is that there needs to be some action taken today. eg. If you are having friends over next weekend for dinner, you actually need to invite them now. In the case of bigger plans, you may have a longer process and several steps to actually achieving the goal. In Mike’s case, he needs months of planning to ensure that he is ready to start his MBA in the fall. With a dream vacation you book months in advance for the perfect dates and location.

There are so many things we want to accomplish or do in life that planning is essential. Ironically, your journey is enhanced when you are able to plan on what you want. In my opinion, planning ahead allows you to “commit” to the future.

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now” -Alan Lakein

“Connecting the Dots of Life’s Journey”

Mike Mack

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Remember back in the day when we went to the grocery store and had the choice of paper or plastic bags for our groceries?

Today, many people actually take their own bags to do their small part to save the planet.

While the concept of the grocery bag is simple, it is about choice.

We all have choices, with some being simple and easy to make. Some will be more challenging and complex to decide.

Should I go with an iPhone or Blackberry?

Is it Starbucks or Tim Hortons?

Do I get outside and become active, or do I sit on the couch?

Can I settle for what my life currently offers or do I pursue a better, more fulfilled life?

Am I full before dessert or after?

Will I lend a helping hand to someone else or ignore him or her?

Should I consider this career path, or go back to school?

One of the fundamentals to having a choice is to determine “why” you want to choose between one thing or another.
(Paper or Plastic?……iPhone or Blackberry?…..Help out or ignore?……Settle for, or puruse more?)

Remember, one choice may not impact the course of your life, however some will be significant to getting you to where you want to go?

“It’s choice-not chance, that determines your destiny.” -Jean Nidetch

“Connecting the Dots of Life’s Journey”
Mike Mack

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