Inspired to Reality

Help Yourself to Life!

Just like they tell you on the air plane “Secure your own air mask, before helping others” you have to take care of yourself first and foremost in life. I am not being selfish here, but think of it as you actually have to be around to help the people you care about. If you are second place, you will never find time to take care of yourself. You will constantly say…I’ll do it tomorrow. Just like any saving program, put that time aside for yourself first before you budget for anything else.

The reason this is so important is we become off balanced and wind up falling back into a rut. You start to get miserable, then the next thing you know you just got mad at the very person you were trying to help. Think of it like this…top athletes train all the time to play their game…your time is meant to revitalize you and get you ready to help the world even more!

It is all a cycle. The happier you are, the happier the people you interact with it. The happier they are, the happier you are! It all starts and end with you!

My only advice in activities is something that revitalizes you…that is something that seems to give you more energy after you do it or at the very least brings you some sort of peace. Reading a book, seeing a movie, nature hikes and fishing are great ideas, but exercising and housework do not count since they should be a part of your normal daily routines. Some extroverted people love to use this time to volunteer. Mentor programs and Big Brother/Big Sister programs are excellent outlets. Also most community colleges offer night programs teaching anything from cooking, to photography, to a foreign languages. Go have fun and learn something creative.

At the very least you should set aside once a week for this time, but again this is a balance. You may need to take a few days more after a hard assignment or if you feel you need it. Only you know what you need.

You cannot feel guilty for taking this time and I am sure that in some situations, family members may try to make you feel this way. If you cannot convince family members to give you this break, you will have to find some activity away from them. Stand firm and you will be happy as a result.

This time is absolutely critical to your success. I myself felt “burned out” after a few weeks and would slump back into the same routine. Every since I started practicing this, not only to I become revitalized…I actually come out stronger than the week before.

Life is about rewards…not punishments. Start living life on your terms and you will always be happy.

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