Easter and April Fools’ Day coincide today. So what are the chances of these two very different holidays being celebrated at once? According to Bustle.com this is the first time Easter has fallen on April Fool’s Day since 1956. Since 1900, it has only happened four times; in 1923, 1934, 1945, and 1956. The next time this is set to occur is 2029.
According to Bustle.com, Easter may be a huge holiday with deep roots, but April Fool’s Day has been around for centuries as well. While we don’t know the exact reason the holiday began, some say it started after a calendar shift in France in the 1500s that changed New Year’s Day from the end of March to Jan. 1, as a joke to trick those who continued to use the old calendar.
I, personally, find it interesting that the New Year originally began the end of March. Easter is associated with new beginnings and it was a calendar shift in France (the origin of April Fool’s Day) that contributed to the date change for the start of a new year. Therefore, let’s make April 1, 2018 your brand new start at living a full and satisfying life. It makes perfect sense for this to be YOUR YEAR and YOUR DATE to celebrate your NEW BEGINNING. I encourage you to embrace this date and begin your quest to live life fully and reach your full potential!
In previous lessons U have learned what it takes to Reach Your Full Potential and what it means to Live Life to Its Fullest. I have entitled the upcoming learning series ‘A Fresh Start – A New Beginning’. Happy Easter, everyone!
Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. – S.D. Gordon
The spirit of Easter is all about hope, love and joyful living. – Anonymous
Let today be the start of something new. – Anonymous
Being curious allows U to become more open minded and not take life at its face value. Think about it. Without curiosity, U will miss out on what life has to offer. You will bypass and forego many wonderful experiences should U choose to be safe rather than curious. U may be telling yourself that life is safer and less stressful when U settle for the status quo – work, eat, sleep and repeat. If all U do is go to work, pay the bills, mow the lawn, shovel the snow, feed the dog, take care of the house and repeat; U are likely to be dissatisfied! I would contend that such a life is boring, unfulfilling and simply existing versus living. Without adding curiosity to your life, life will become a series of mundane tasks. U will never grow, change, evolve or truly live.
Curiosity can position U to not only see life at its face value but to understand it fully and make better decisions about what U want to achieve and do. Curiosity motivates U to explore, experience everything more fully and be engaged in life. When U add curiosity to your life, U serve yourself more effectively. Being curious is a promise U need to make to yourself, if U are to truly to live your life. Delve into life completely – explore, learn, try, experience, and discover all kinds of things in your world to live fully.
Variety is the spice of life
Research finds encountering new things and feeling excitement about and interest in them release dopamine and other feel good neurochemicals to make U happier and lead to a more full life.
Curiosity help you embrace change and open yourself up to new experiences
Curiosity leads to exploration which motivates U to learn about situations, relationships, and events. If U aren’t curious about something, U will never discover, process, and plan for your involvement. Staying curious helps U become a more daring risk-taker because U really want to know. When U are more willing to leave the old and familiar routine and take up a challenge, in order to reap the rewards of new knowledge and stimulation, your life will improve. Being curious leads to a far more satisfying life than the one where you stay huddled up in the comfort of the mundane, safe and familiar.
Curiosity leads to engagement
When U are engrossed in your topic, conversation or activity, U can more easily experience being fully present, and enjoying what U are doing, and because U are so immersed in what U are involved in or learning about. Time falls away and conversation becomes effortless.
A positive repeat cycle
Practicing being curious about life leads to more openness and engagement with life, which leads to more experiences and adventures, which lead to more satisfaction, meaning, and fulfilment. Become curious about what life has to offer and U will find yourself wondering why U have positioned yourself to sit on the sidelines when U could have been on the field participating in the game of life. U will be amazed at what life has to offer simply by opening up and allowing yourself to be curious. Curiosity will help U in your relationships. It will improve your life experiences and increase your satisfaction in life.
Becoming curious about the everyday
Curiosity can help U turn the most mundane of everyday tasks into something enjoyable. When U learn to see things from a new angle or perspective you can not only learn something new, but U can benefit from the thrill of discovery and gain enjoyment from the process. U will never be bored again.
Curiosity supports life to the fullest
Curiosity naturally leads to doing more, and the more curious U are the more diverse experiences U can enjoy, and experiencing is one of the greatest ways to live life to the fullest.
Curiosity is one of the great secrets of happiness. – Bryant H. McGill
“Curiosity keeps us moving forward, exploring, experimenting, opening new doors.” – Walt Disney
“Curiosity is the most powerful thing you own.” – James Cameron
In this learning series, A Fresh Start, Recreate-U.com will begin to explore a myriad of activities to help U start fresh and begin to explore life as U wish. The world is full of experiences for U to explore and enjoy and everyone finds joy in different activities. To fully express who U are and ‘find’ yourself, you must immerse yourself and participate in activities you enjoy and follow your heart. How U use your free time can inspire U, uplift U and captivate U in a very personal way.
Today, I would like to talk about music and how it can transform a day, your mood and how U interact with others and your world.
Why U Should Listen to Music
Humans are connected to music in ways that allows us to interact and understand one another on a different level. Music has a way of transcending the gap in communication. Our favorite musical artists touch our soul with their lyrics and captivating sounds. Sometimes words cannot express the emotions U are feeling. When life is difficult, music can be a constructive way to express what U are feeling. Music can be a very effective way to express yourself and cope with life’s challenges.
Music impacts brain and behavior function. Music moves U; it inspires U. It heightens your awareness of your environment and surroundings. Music has been used to enhance cognitive and physical performance. Music compels U and helps U put your experiences in perspective. Music is able to change your mood and improve your outlook on life. Music can fire U up or help U relax. Music can improve your concentration and help U focus. Music can bring U to tears or make U want to do a happy dance. It can put you to sleep or motivate U to run a marathon.
Music can be an incredible vehicle in helping U capture what U feel and help U make your way through life especially when times are difficult.
Exercise
How often do you listen to music? If it less than an hour per day, make a decision to listen to music more often.
When’s the last time you listened to music and it brought you to tears, made U want to do a happy dance or put you to sleep?
What is your favorite genre of music? Who is your favorite artist? Why?
Create a playlist of songs and music that relaxes U, inspires/motivates U, improves your mood and outlook.
What songs do U listen to because U simply love the lyrics?
There are certain things to keep in mind about choosing music which will make listening a more successful experience for U:
Listen to music U like.
Listen to music that inspires U. It can be uplifting, happy, enlightening or quiet and soothing. Choose music which will improve your mood and your overall sense of well-being.
Listen to lyrics that provide a positive message.
Try different speeds and music tempos to find music that is appealing to your senses.
Make music a part of your daily life and learn how music can affect U and how it can greatly enhance how U approach life. Who knows? Music might even help U move to the beat of your own drum!
“Remember that you cannot always please everyone and sometimes the very best thing you can do is to stand up, straighten your back, hold your head up high, and meet your own needs. This principle is all about standing up to the world to follow your heart, to be yourself, to “march to the beat of your own drum,” to be who and what U want to be, and to fully express who U are despite others’ potential attempt to suppress U.” ― Brent N. Hunter, The Rainbow Bridge: Bridge to Inner Peace and to World Peace
Endless Supply
Inside U exists an endless supply of greatness refueled by your inner desire and motivation to possess the life U wish to live. Take stock in who U and recognize your capacity for greatness is limitless!
“The basis of success is not what you have nor who you are. It is what you have become and how great you feel about yourself and the life you possess.” – Myron Sta Ana
Purpose and Vision
Know your reasons, think outside the box and change your life with your imaginative thinking.
Strong Core Values
Your core values motivate U and shape your future. They will drive your behaviors and influence your actions and move U towards your inner greatness.
Unshakeable Belief
U can’t unlock your inner greatness if U don’t believe in yourself. To achieve greatness U first must set yourself apart from everyone else. If U truly believe in your purpose and your vision then nothing can stop U from being great. For example, professional athletes and Olympians may have innate abilities to perform well and achieve success in sports. However, inner greatness is achieved because of the realization that even though ability may be inherited, capability is related to your attitude and belief that anything is possible. So much more can be achieved than what lies within U if U truly believe in yourself. Your capacity for greatness is limitless as long as U believe you are capable.
Exercise Your Greatness
If U look at individuals who have achieved greatness, U typically only see them AFTER they have become ‘GREAT’. U haven’t seen the work, the failures and the everyday struggles that have gone into their achievements. Realize your shining moment, whatever it may be for U, won’t happen overnight or in an instant. It will take time and effort and persistence to achieve your greatness. Put your greatness to work. Practice with it everyday by setting realistic goals. The more U achieve, the more confident U will become in the goals and ambitions U have set for yourself. Greatness must be exercised to become fit.
Stay Grounded
There is nothing wrong with having lofty goals. While U shoot for the stars just remember that you can’t skip the present and the other roles U have in life – parent, teacher, mentor, son, daughter, sibling and friend. If U spend all your time and effort on the future and what U wish to achieve and forget about those around U and your other roles in life, U will lose sight of the here and now. No one can have a single role, purpose or mission in life. By staying grounded and connected to your world and your significant others, your road to greatness will be filled with many opportunities and experiences. These opportunities and experiences will help lead U towards achieving your inner greatness.
Efficient Decision Making
It’s a choice – greatness; it’s a decision that U make. Slice away any other outcomes and insist that greatness is the only true option for U. What U believe, U can achieve.
Habits and Goals
Discipline is an important aspect of unleashing your inner greatness and one of the most effective marks of this is creating a list of daily goals for yourself. Part of success lies in repetition and taking small steps consistently over time. It requires practice, hard work, and patience in equal measure, so, develop habits that will lead to your success and quash any behaviors or habits that are holding U back.
Enjoy the Journey
Greatness is less about achieving the goal and more about the journey it takes to arrive there. So, enjoy the journey –U won’t find happiness or greatness in instant gratification. Relish your opportunities to defy the odds and overcome obstacles as U traverse the road less traveled.
Begin Today
I am sure that everyone has heard the adage, ‘do not put off until tomorrow what U can do today’. Begin to explore and experience your inner greatness today by recognizing that today will be gone in an instant. Take steps now to live the rest of each today by being your best U!
“The only thing standing between you and your awesomeness, your greatness and true happiness is you! Let yourself be and have an amazing time doing it!” – Ricardo Housham
“Do not let other people take you to a dead-end when you can find your own path to greatness.” – Myron Sta Ana
Have U ever noticed that it is the most unlikely people who seem to be living the fullest lives? These individuals tend to have a few things in common… they are passionate, willing to take calculated risks, and they’re willing to experience failure to get what they want out of life. How do U measure up in comparison to these traits?
Do U walk on the safe side in every situation because it’s how U were raised? Do U protect yourself from failure and hurt?
Growing up, U probably assumed life would provide U with an endless supply of opportunities. Part of entering adulthood is realizing that nothing in life is guaranteed and it’s up to U to make things happen for yourself.
Regret as to how U have lived your life usually doesn’t hit home until U get older, get ill, lose a loved one or experience an life-changing event that will rock your entire world. Regret can hurt, but it is avoidable.
The time to action is NOW!! This very moment begin to redesign your life so it is filled with adventure, excitement and all the things that U really want to do.
Live Life To The Fullest
Stop worrying about the past and stressing about the future, learn how to live in the moment. That doesn’t mean U can’t plan and set goals for yourself.
Embrace your present, no matter what it’s throwing at U.
Figure out what U love and find a way to do it as often as possible, bonus points if U can make a career out of it.
Forgive and move on. With forgiveness comes freedom – it’s for your benefit, not the other person.
Show gratitude for what U have in life, getting up early might feel terrible at the time, but U can appreciate that U have another day to live.
Spend time in quiet reflection each day.
Make time to laugh every day, whether it’s with friends or by sitting back watching a comedy.
Be open and honest in every communication.
Find your Zen, whether it’s in writing, creating art or just sitting quietly with a book.
Don’t just watch life pass U by, start taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented to U.
Appreciate the people in your life.
Find time to do what U enjoy.
Follow your gut.
Don’t get too caught up in the small stuff.
Ask questions.
Don’t be afraid to walk through the open window if the door has slammed shut.
Do something that scares U at least once a day.
Make a budget and include travel and adventure in it so U can grab opportunities as they arise.
Trust your strengths and learn to see your weaknesses as an opportunity to improve.
Focus your attention on the day ahead and live life to the full.
Ask yourself what is holding U back from living the life U want? Maybe U are dissatisfied with the amount of time you are spending at work, perhaps U feel U don’t spend enough time with your family, or maybe, U want to indulge your passions more frequently.
U only get one life, so U should give it everything you’ve got and enjoy it while it lasts. We can’t predict the future, so take advantage of everything that comes your way. Are U guilty of making excuses for why your life is the way it is? Ultimately, how your life unfolds is up to U.
U are in control of finding happiness within and making life an adventure everywhere U go and in everything U do.
“There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” – Kevin Welch
“I hate seeing people with so much POTENTIAL throw their whole life away. you only get one life so make the best of it.” – Sonya Parker
“We all have one life to live, but if we are too busy to notice the world revolving around us, then we are not living.” – Rexon Wilson
One of the most important things to realize is that you only have one life to live. It can all be gone in an instant. Cherish each moment and say what you need to say to someone before it’s too late. – Nicholas Fickes
“Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” – Wayne Dyer
