Daily Gratitude: Most of the time we can’t see it (your true path) because a) we don’t take the time to step back and see the big picture and b) we feel we have to control everything. When we calm down and relax, we allow the time and space to let things happen as they should. I find it continuously fascinating how we humans think that we can actually influence how everything happens in our life. That would really be a disaster if the fate of all things was left to us. We all have some mental baggage and many have more than their fair share. That mental baggage changes how a person looks at what’s going on. Be grateful the universe is watching your back. You should want this great power behind you. I know I’m ecstatic and that’s what’s behind “everything always works out for me”. Try saying that. Then you’ll believe it and more and more will go well for you!

Daily Gratitude: This is the most important concept for changing your life. It goes along with all the posts about how your thoughts can change your life. Once you change enough of your thoughts, you’ll have changed your mindset. First, though, you have to be aware of what you’re thinking and what your mindset is. Do you know what your mindset really is? Or do you have a bunch of mindsets depending on the circumstances? I used to have an entire box of them. I’d pull out the one that fit the situation. All that did was confuse everything and deplete me of energy. I won’t go into how that “box” of different mindsets is related to IFS (Internal Family Systems) but each mindset was from a different “part” of me. Anyway, once i learned to calm my nervous system and talk with my parts, things got more in alignment. The key was being aware of the many components and then working to figure out where they came from. Once you know what’s going on, you’ll smack your forehead and say “well, of course, no wonder I was so confused. Now I can see the thoughts and ideas that belong together and I can create more of them.” This doesn’t happen overnight but it can happen if you want it to. Keep track of your thoughts and how you approach different situations. Decide what you like and what you don’t like and work to improve the concepts you do like and eliminate the ones you don’t. You do have control over your thoughts. It just doesn’t feel like it sometimes.

Daily Gratitude: For people my age you might balk at this because you wonder if you’ll even be around in 10 years. Well, you may be but if it seems daunting, change it to 2 or 3 or 5 or whatever number you want. The point is that this goes along with the post on making progress and the one on regrets. Start today and choose what you want out of life. You can change at any age. I have changed more in the past 4 years than in the previous 72 (mostly due to Internal Family Systems). You all know about the Tennessee race (Vol State) and how I tried to do it unsupported for 4 attempts and couldn’t finish without a crew. Once i realized it was because of my lack of mental discipline, i spent a year intensely studying sports psychology and mental discipline. I changed. And it paid off. I was 72. So never think it’s too late to choose your life. Sure you can’t change what’s already gone before but 1) you can change how you think about it and 2) you can choose something different from this point on. Situations and conditions are different from when you were young but your attitude is what will determine how you move forward now. Don’t be stagnant. Move forward in some manner.