This is an excerpt from this amazing book from Don Miguel Ruiz on tips to personal freedom and living a fulfilling life. The four agreements are below-

1. Be Impeccable with your Word
   Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
   Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions
   Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
   Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

We should all agree that a significant share of our woes in thought and action will be relieved if we lived these tips on a daily basis. Food for thought.

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Message being, if you want to be successful as bad as you breath, you will be successful. #MOTD

However, in order for us to accomplish this this year – for us to have a more fruitful and productive 2013 ever – we have to first accept the fact that NOTHING magical happened when 12 am struck this morning! So even though we’ve been given another opportunity this year to set things straight, that will only happen when we take personal responsibility to make positive changes this year. This is why its important for us to reflect and honestly review our performance in 2012 if we haven’t already done so. By so doing, you’ll be able to analyse your true performance and properly determine the areas in which you need to make changes and perhaps, how to make them.

But whatever the case may be, just blindly starting off 2013 wishing that things will turn out better than they did in 2012 is self-deceit. Also, blindly making new year’s resolutions just because you feel obligated by custom and tradition to do so at the beginning of every new year will also turn out to be unfruitful – unless you ensure that those resolutions are actions that will yield the changes you have determined is detrimental to make your performance in 2013 better than that of 2012.

Fam, let’s all hit the ground this year running! Let’s set goals that will inspire us to give our best this year to everything we set our hands to do. But most importantly, let’s commit our year into God’s hands and work with Him, expecting that He’ll help us with the things that are outside our range of direct control.

We, your fam at Seeds In Words, wish you a fruitful, favorable, and fun filled year! May you receive all that you desire and work for this year! And may your dreams and all that you hope for come true!! Happy New Year!!

Recently, I have been giving serious thought to everything I’ve ever believed in. Not to go into much detail, I’m one that has grown to believe in a lot of things. Some realistic, some larger than life, some a little narcissistic and a lot through the world around me. Regardless of what it is, I constantly question myself as to why I believe in these things. Root reasons that I’ve come up with often end up around my background as an individual, things I’ve encountered in life, people I’ve personally related with and people I look up to. Do I truly love and relate to these beliefs or are they just placeholders for an otherwise empty means of existence? Needless to say, that is a tough question that usually ends up albeit, rhetorical in many situations, at least for me.

Either ways, we all agree that life is much more wholeful and worth living when we believe in something, whether its God, love, science, karma, our really cute dog or a profound impact which our belief is going to have on the world around us. The key is, there has to be that belief in something that is larger than you. Something that has a direct impact on why you live. Why you wake up in the morning, get through your day and its nuances and eventually feel fulfilled that all is going on well, and possibly for a reason. Believing gives us something to hold on to. Joan of Arc said “One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” and I couldn’t agree more.

I have personally, through my walks of life chosen to believe in God. Not because of my background or the people who I’ve been blessed to be influenced by; at least not anymore, but because I’ve experienced through faith that a lot has worked out in my favor. Not through my own doing, but through the faith I’ve had by believing in God. Now, that has been my personal experience, and I’ve met a lot of people, truly, who have experienced the same type of faith in a different dimension through the things that they believe in, and I openly appreciate and respect them for that. But as they say, some of us may take different paths, but we may, after a long journey, end up in the same place.

The key idea here is, its tough to find meaning or purpose in life without believing in anything. Feverishly working through minute by minute, day by day waiting for the next thing to happen and putting ourselves at the mercy of the world around us. When we believe in something, we are grateful about the life we live and everything that encompasses it. We can savor every moment with the things and people we love knowing that they are there for a reason. We can acknowledge that there is a purpose why we exist, that there is a reason for every thought, experience and the lessons we learn from them. We can make an impact, be the difference, be the love and companion of the someone or people around us. We can take decisions with a compass, aligning us back to our centered self, not the temporary desires and manipulations the world offers us on an “oh so comfortable” platter of gold. We can work hard and excel at the things that we expend ourselves doing with dignity and a deep, fulfilling sense of purpose.

This doesn’t in any fashion mean that we should impress, judge or force our beliefs on the world around us. Respecting other people and their beliefs is a key ingredient to peace, love and more profoundly, a key component to making a positive impact through our lives. Finger pointing made a positive impact, said nobody, ever. Our lives should be a living testimony of what we’ve chosen to believe in, and if infact others choose to share our beliefs with us, it should be because of the fact that our lives have made an impact that they want to share and experience.

So ask yourself, what do I believe in? Why? What type of impact is my belief making on the world, my life and the people I share it with?

Food for thought.

Hey fam! I hope you kicked off your day with a positive attitude! I know that’s hard to do most of the time; especially since we’re constantly surrounded with problems that just won’t go away! Problems with varying intensity - from something as serious as gas prices that keep fluctuating, to very negligible things such as your very obnoxious, discouraging, and self-obsessed boss whose perception of you determines whether or not you’ll be promoted, and hence, how much you earn and the quality of your life!

Let’s talk about bosses for a bit. For most people, the word “Boss” is synonymous with “Hitler,” or worst still, “the devil himself”! And that’s completely understandable. Bosses could be suckers sometimes. However, given the fact that the average working adult spends majority of his time at work, I believe the smarter way to get around the shenanigans of bosses is to do exactly what the bible passage above says. Let’s break the passage down into practical steps very quickly;

1. Accept the authority of your master with all respect – realize that within the confines of the office, your boss is the king. He possesses the sovereign authority to do as he pleases. He might be answerable to a higher authority, but that authority is not you, my friend! So, don’t try to change his attitude, just accept it like you’ve grown to accept the times and seasons. Winter comes, then summer, and then fall…DUH! Your boss is a self-obsessed and controlling jerk…DUH!

2. Do what they tell you – you know how we, as humans, tend to complete tasks with enthusiasm if we’re asked to do them nicely? Well, this might not apply to your boss. The remaining part of the sentence reads, “…not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel.” In other words, demand it from yourself to give your best work and complete each task you’re assigned to the best of your ability. Don’t let the quality of your work be directly proportional to the attitude of your boss…realize that each task you complete to the best of your ability makes you even better at your job! And I know that in due time, you’ll be freed from the shackles of your boss…I mean, either he gets promoted, transferred out, or fired; or you’ll get promoted, transferred out, or quit your job to do something more productive with yourself – hopefully not fired! So, why not grow as much as you can while you’re still there, yes?

In conclusion, just remember we’re to take control of our lives and our destinies. But while you do that, aim to handle what is within your sphere of control. The rest of it, don’t get depressed about them, pray to God. Let Him give you a hand. This is what the next verse reads, “For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.” You get it? Now, go take action!

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We often throw the word “Purpose” around on a day to day basis in very many situations in life. I personally love the word because it has a certain weight to it that I like to associate myself with. So lately since moving to Austin, TX I’ve been fortunate to meet with very wonderful people. People who have achieved a lot in the personal and professional lives and in the grand scheme of things, I look up to.

In meeting with people, I like to find something I can relate to in their lives and ask open ended questions about thought process, values etc. What drives them to achieve as they live their lives and what has driven them so far to get to where they are. One thing that I’ve seen consistently is that these people have always had a general thought or idea as to what the desired result should be with their lives. I’d love to call it “living with intention”. Knowing that this is the reason I exist and as such letting that guide their every move.

The easiest way to live life is to simply wake up every morning, go through the motions, take things as they come and say “well, this has been an awesome day” or “this has been a really shitty day”. I lived that way for a very long time; looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places, pursuing some form of happiness that always seemed to elude me just when I thought I had figured it out, that type stuff. But then at some point we all need to sit down and ask ourselves what we really want out of our lives. What is the reason I exist? I choose not to believe we are here to just keep trying things out, hitting and missing and just waiting on the next big thing. I call that “living by accident”.

Back to the premise, the only reason these successful people made it to where they are now is because even if they didn’t find a purpose from the beginning, at some point on the way, they had to give some serious thought to exactly what their desired outcome was. This is not to say we should necessarily have a life “game plan” even though there are benefits attached to that as well but then, existing, weathering through challenges and making choices are things that should be driven by a clear and overarching knowledge of what our desired outcome is. That is the only way you can genuinely tell yourself “I’m a successful person” and carry yourself with confidence regardless of what the rest of the world thinks about you. That in my opinion is fulfillment and if positive, will take you to heights even you cannot imagine.

Whatever we choose to call it; purpose, desired outcome, desired results, intentions etc. It is extremely important to have one of those not only for our lives as a big picture but the little short term details we deal with daily. Before you take that job, does it align with your desired outcome from life? Before you go for that degree? Before you step in your car and drive down there? When we know where we’re going, its way more fulfilling to live through today’s wins and challenges. Even when “life happens”, its easier to pick ourselves up and continue winning because we have that clear desired outcome in mind.

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Here’s a short clip from one of my favorite motivational speakers – Zig Ziglar. Please endeavor to pull all you can from it! And remember, it’s never too late to start living your dreams!

**Zig-Ziglar’s becoming a little old, so you might have to strain a little to hear what he’s saying…sorry about that!**

You shouldn’t be here right now, reading this post! You should be spending some quality time with your loved ones: family, friends…loved ones!!! SO yaay quit reading this post and go have some swell time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, today, I want to urge you to do more than just give wrapped gifts. I want to encourage you to give the people around you the gift of a smile…You don’t have to have an incredible sense of humor to do that. You don’t even need a sense of humor at all!

All you have to do is give them a compliment. Tell them something positive about them that you see… Tell them you love their attitude, their hair, their eyes, their shoes, or their shirt. It really doesn’t matter, just tell them something good.

You see, people don’t go about sourcing for compliments, but it sure feels good when someone else leaves you a compliment. You know that, don’t you? You’ve felt that way too at some point; maybe even just a few hours ago! Now, all you have to do is give someone else the privilege of hearing something good about them from you. You’ll completely change the vibe of their day! They’ll feel special, wanted, noticed, and cute, all because you said something!!

If you’ve ever been to a funeral or watched one, you probably heard the most incredible and breath-taking remarks about the dead guy during someone’s speech… But why wait that long? Why wait until the person is dead to give them compliments? Do it now that it actually counts. Change someone’s day, change their vibe, change their mood, just tell someone something good to make them smile.

After all, this season is all about love. And who says you can’t show love and warmth to strangers! It won’t cost you a thing, but it will definitely make a lasting difference in the recipients life!

Hey fam! Hope you’re all doing great! Hope Christmas shopping and all that good stuff’s coming along just fine…If you’ve not bought anything yet, please don’t delay…get out there and rob some stores of their discounts!! 

Today, I want to talk about another characteristic of eagles – let’s call it…Wing power! When a storm hits, eagles are the only birds that are brave enough to stay in the air; other birds (the ducks, sparrows, and geese) head for their nests! lol…It gets even better. Eagles don’t just stay in the air, they fly into the storm!! Kinda cool huh? Those creatures have very incredible wing power!

Now, this is how it relates to us humans: we’re supposed to be able to rise to challenges, garner strength from within, and face the storms in our lives. I realize this is easier said than done, but it’s possible! We can all do it! Just like Joseph Campbell said, when we face challenges, we’re forced to search deep within ourselves to find the power to overcome! Actually, I would like to replace the word “Find” in that sentence with “Discover,” because we don’t suddenly become strong/powerful because of a storm we’re facing, we’ve had the strength all along! We just never got to use ‘em…

Let’s cultivate the habit of seeing challenges as opportunities to better ourselves, rather than life’s effort to frustrate the bunkers out of us. Let’s begin to see our present crisis as a call for us to start using those abilities we just never got around using. For instance, instead of seeing your infuriating boss as a sucker who’s worthy of death by food poisoning, you can choose to see that job as an opportunity for you to learn how to deliver your best in a hostile environment. With that shift in paradigm, you’d be surprised how much of a patient fellow you really are!

A very smart lady I know once said, “…If you must, you can.” And I’ve found that to be so true! For example, one might take refuge in his cozy “wake-work-hangout-sleep” schedule, until he gets the memo that his company’s about to start laying off employees, or he just decides to make a better life for himself. Then, the schedule changes to “Wake-work-school-hangout-sleep.” And then he gets married and has a bunch of cute little kids, the new schedule now becomes, “Wake-work-work-school-wife-family-family-sleep.” Here’s what’s interesting though; he’ll do it…somehow!! He’ll find the strength he never knew he had to combine all these and make them work….because he must!

I’m not being unrealistic. It’s in everyone of us. We all posses the capabilities to face whatever challenges we have before us today. Don’t be like the ducks that shy away from things just because the heat got turned up, or because of some storm. You can do something about your challenges! If not you, you might know someone who might be able to help. But do something about it! Quit making excuses and activate the eagle in you. Get up and face that storm already!!

In conclusion, fam, dust up your abandoned goals one more time… But this time, with the mindset that says, “I have what it takes to make this a reality!” And, as you face your next challenge (in school, work, family, or wherever), remember they’re designed to help you grow. You’ll discover more of yourself when your done with it. It’s ok to feel down, but don’t stay down! Don’t feel bad for long. Put yourself together and embark on your journey of self discovery!!

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