Baby Boomer Life

Baby Boomer Life author, Alexandra Barrett, is on track for becoming an inspirational mastermind. I feel pretty bold saying that because it is a very powerful declaration. What I am stating here is this; I am truly learning the meaning of the admonition to “Seize The Day!”

What is a mastermind you ask? According to some books on living a successful life that were written in the 1910 era; to be a mastermind is to have the ability to truly control your thoughts and keep them completely focussed on the actions and outcomes that define success, wealth, and health. A mastermind always looks past appearances to desired outcome for focus and direction bypassing the seemingly impossible reasons why “such and such” cannot happen.

I have been reading many of my old notes from great trainings and teachers whom I have admired and modeled and mirrored in my own life success story so far. It is amazing how similar all their advice is. Even reading my own instructions to various coaching clients, students, friends, and even family. My focus is always on the positive.

“Live in the possibility of what you CAN do not what you cannot do.”

“Find someone to mirror who inspires you and motivates you then copy them. Imitation is, after all, the sincerest form of flattery.”

“Keep your focus on what you Can do and what you Do want rather than your limitations and what you don’t want.”

“Attention animates. What are you animating with your thoughts about your life today?”

In any given moment you have many possible choices and outcomes. Which thought will you animate out of many? The ones you choose say a lot about you and determine whether you get where you are going or just sidetracked and possibly even lost. Of the many thousands of thoughts passing through your mind today which few will you highlight and breath life into?

You get my drift?

I believe that the individual who has control over their thoughts and their mind is at a huge advantage over someone who allows the mind to drift on autopilot to bad memories, hurtful events, disappointments and unfulfilling expectations. Why play the same old movie that was awful the first time, over and over again like a glutton for punishment?

You wouldn’t go to a movie you hated and sit through it 40 or 50 times, would you?
So why replay arguments, heartbreak, insults, or any other negative scene from the past over and over in your mind like a terrible movie that you can’t walk out on?

It seems rather masochistic, doesn’t it?
Well, it is and it creates bad mental habits that undermine success and optimism.

To simply think words like “seize the day”, “let’s see what I CAN do today and really focus on getting that done”, “I am so thankful for learning from this lesson or mistake”, and “how would my favorite mentor tackle this?”

These are all empowering thoughts that train the mind to be optimistic instead of pessimistic but beyond that they clearly define a direction of accomplishment and satisfaction. They eliminate uncertainty and wishy washy wasteful behaviors that undermine results.

Once we are determined to accomplish something we don’t need to know exactly how it is going to come about. Sometimes we may have no idea how we are going to achieve our deepest desires and goals but we know that if we can see it and believe it, what follows is achievement. That is particularly true once we have commitment.

Following that train of thought, here is a quote I found years ago and loved but I am not sure I remember who wrote it. I copied it down and carried it around for years and I can’t begin to tell you how many uncertain times it brought me through. For me it has always kind of defined faith.

On Commitment:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in ones favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no wo/man could have dreamed would have come his/her way.”

Along with controlling ones’ thoughts and living deliberately, I am convinced that commitment is the key to success in any endeavor regardless of how long and how difficult. It has been proven to me in my life that the biggest obstacle to success is clearly a flip-flopping mind and lack of focussed commitment. Getting sidetracked and losing faith are costly errors of the undisciplined novice. The quote on commitment saved me many a time-like when I had to take my Series 7 stock exam three times and wouldn’t quit until I passed.

Practice Gratitude. You have to get up everyday and think “Thank You for this incredible day and all that I can do,be,and have in it.” Then feel it. Stop and say “Thank You” with your heart. Feel the power of gratitude on your body and mind with the certainty that you are about to experience the best day of your life. Be a mastermind.

Then get out there and Seize The Day!