Challenge: Keep the Light Burning

At this time of year Christians are celebrating the birth of “The Light of the World;” our Jewish friends are celebrating the Festival of Lights; and even our secular friends have decorated their houses with lights.

Lights are a powerful metaphor, one we make use of in our book when we advise you to “Be a light.”  And we think we all have a pretty good sense for “being a light” at this time of year–we all laugh a little easier, smile a little quicker, and remember how much joy there can be, especially for children.  The problem is come next week we all get back to normal, we go back to a normal work schedule, gift-giving gets replaced by gift-returning/exchanging, and standing happily in lines at the checkout becomes impatient toe-tapping once again.

Normal kinda sucks. 

But someone who truly “Gets It” sees that as an opportunity: an opportunity to stand out and be different.  While everybody else gets re-absorbed by the darkness, a “Get It” will continue to be a little more cheerful and little more patient and a little more hopeful.  They bring their positive energy forward into the new year and then they become the people who shape that new year.  And in the process they become the people who help others find their way in the new year, too.

Because the Light banishes the dark every time.

So don’t be sad when the Holiday season passes–use it as a springboard into the year of your Perfect Life.

The Gurus of Get It

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Weekend Challenge: Create Joy

“Joy” is a word we hear a lot at this time of year, but how often do people experience true joy?  How often are you able to let go of your inhibitions or your worries long enough to have a moment of real joy?

How many of you even remember what that is?

Joy is a feeling that wells up from inside of you when you let go of all the dampers and all the masks and have an honest, genuine moment.  And look, we know that some of those dampers and masks are there for a very good reason (though usually we have too many); but those become so habitual that to really let go of them is often very difficult.

So maybe you’re not quite able or ready to go running around the mall making airplane noises this weekend–that’s okay.  You can experience joy in a way that won’t challenge your grip on your persona:  create joy in someone else’s life.  We recommend a little child, because they’re easier to please than “grown-ups”.  But over the next few days try to do something that elicits from a child a genuine response of joy, and then watch that child for a few minutes.

Because real joy is infectious.

By the way, if you’re stumped for a way to create joy, try tickling a little child (um, preferably one that you know and whose parents you know).

The Gurus of Get It

Forgive!

We are not sure why it is this time of year you always hear the word “forgive”.  Is it because this is the season to give?  Is it because it is the end of a year where you are taking stock in your life?  Is it because people just seem a little nicer this time of year?  Whatever the reason, it is great advice.  It is not only great this time of year, but all year round.  Harboring ill feelings, negative thoughts or just being angry at someone is just not healthy.  For one it releases negative energy into your body.  But two, and even more importantly, it takes away precious thoughts that you should have for the people who do matter in your life.  So for 2011, “trim the fat”.  If the person who made you angry is worth having in your life, resolve it.  If that person brings nothing positive to you and/or your family, let them go. Remember, when it comes to having good people in your life, it is much more about quality than quantity.

The Gurus of Get It!

Challenge: Accountability!

Six months ago we challenged you to create an opportunity at the end of each day to clear your brain through some simple, repetitive activity. 

Well?  how’s that working for you?

We don’t make these suggestions as simple matters of ego or because we need something to write–we really do believe these suggestions will improve your life.  And since one of the key ingredients of a Perfect Life is accountability, we think it’s important that we check in every once in a while and see how a. you’re doing at following your Path, and b. how our suggestions are working out for you.

Meditation–or something like it–is important for your Perfect Life.  The opportunity to settle your brain down and focus on something mundane, like breathing or like putting one bolt in place at a time, helps your brain reset.  Have you ever noticed how nicely your brain solves problems when you’re busy thinking about something else?  Meditation is the grand “something else.”  At the end of the day, there is nothing better to get you set for a good night of sleep and a really productive next day.

And being accountable is everything!

The Gurus of Get It!

Don’t Close Doors

We recently saw a seventh grade class description at the local middle school that included “choosing an academic track to prepare for a career in science or technology.”

Seventh grade. 

Look, we subscribe to the theory that you should try to define your Vision as early as possible so you can begin to define your Path and set your Goals.  But we also realize that not everybody is in a position to do that early on in life–certainly not 7th grade.  But don’t make the mistake of thinking that NOT making that decision means that none of your decisions affect your future yet.  Even if you’re not deciding right now that you want to be a doctor, that does not mean that you won’t decide in the future that you want to be a doctor.  So just because you’re not declaring your pre-med major when you’re 13, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still do well in your science classes.

If all of your life choices were doors in a big room, there is no power on Earth that can force you to walk through any of them right at this moment.  But there’s nothing that says you should be going around the room slamming doors right now, either. 

The Gurus of Get It!

Challenge: Pick Your Own Scale

What does the word “success” mean to you?  Or how about the word “happy”?

It’s so easy to get caught up in other peoples’ definitions of those two words in your life, and it’s not always the obvious things like a parent asking about what you’re doing with your life.   A friend buys a new car, a colleague moves into a bigger home, an old friend gets a new girlfriend . . . suddenly you’re starting to think about your life and question what you’ve achieved and what directions you’ve taken. 

Those are the times when your Vision becomes the most important thing in your life.  If your Vision is truly worthy of your time and talents, then the rewards will take care of themselves and the Focus you devote to your dreams will keep you on the path. 

So this week try to listen to the voices in your head when you hear about other peoples’ good fortune.  Challenge yourself to not even let the littlest doubt creep into your thought process and then redouble your efforts to bring your Perfect Life into being.

The Gurus of Get It!

Self Control and “That Person”

“Don’t you think I hear myself?  I don’t want to be that person!”

This line, uttered in exasperation in a recent movie, rings so true in today’s world, and especially at this time of year.

And especially in crowded shopping centers at this time of year.

We all have our lists to check (and to check twice) and we all tend to get a little “amped up” in big crowds, so it’s very natural that our behavior might not be a great reflection of who we think we want to be.  And it’s not just this time of year–it’s on the highways and it’s meeting deadlines at work or at school and it’s trying to get to family events.  Whenever we stress just a little our reflexes kick in and we become “that person.”  And try as we might to smooth the world over in less stressful times, “that person” leaves a mark.

That’s why self control is such a valuable character trait.  You can always choose how you’re going to act, and therefore you choose whether you make somebody’s day a little better or you become “that person.”  Choose wisely.

The Gurus of Get It!

The Trickle Down Affect!

We were just recently watching the movie Blindside and it got us thinking about the trickle down effect.  In this case, a family reached out and helped one person.  They did not do it for any selfish gain, they simply did it because it felt right.  This mans path was forever changed from poverty and possibly life on the street to an NFL football player.  They changed one persons life.  But, is that all they did?  By changing his path, they affected thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions of people.  He now is a high-profile NFL player who goes out to the community, helps where needed and acts as a very influential role model.  Their one action has now touched countless lives.

This is a great lesson for all of us.  When you are out on the street, in a store, at work or with your family/friends, be nice, be helpful and be happy.  It may just be that your good attitude and good example is just what someone needs in their life.  And than, by making them feel better, they will be in a position to make others feel better.  And so on and so on and son.  That is how we make our world a little better.

The Gurus of Get It!