What is the most important thing you can do today?

Make it a habit to ask yourself this question every morning when you wake up.

“What is the most important thing I can do today that will benefit me, my family, my life, my fellow man, my planet?”

Why should you ask yourself this question?
>> Because it matters.
>> Because we live in trying times and the answers are more critical than ever.
>> Because you need to get in the habit of defining “importance” in your life.
>> Because YOU “CAN” ask yourself this question.
>> Because you have probably “NOT” been asking this question enough.

Ask yourself this simple question every morning. “What is the most important thing I can do today?”

The answer does not have to be BIG. Sometimes the answer will seem small, but think about it carefully…it may be bigger than you think.

Here are some examples:
#1 You will help your daughter with her homework today.
Sound small? It’s not.
>> You are creating a lifelong bond with your child.
>> You are spending valuable time with your child, time that can be used to instill values in her
that can last a lifetime.

#2 You are fed up with your boss, you have decided that you are (finally) going to start your own business, break away from your job and become independent.
Obviously this is “VERY” important. It can change your life in many ways. It can bring you freedom.

It will require lots of work, planning, and strategies, but the rewards will be great. You will be filled with pride and increased self esteem.

(Just a quick note: I will be making a HUGE announcement in the next few days regarding this topic…..stay tuned.)

#3 You will workout this morning before going to work.
>> Your heart rate will increase, your heart will grow stronger.
>> Your skin, brain cells and all the cells in your body will receive more oxygen due to the increased blood flow that results from a cardio workout.
>> You will feel less depressed because science tells us that your brain will be flooded with endorphins. Endorphins make you feel euphoric, happy and powerful.

(Note that I always write my best work after I return from a swim workout. Why?
Because the euphoria that working out brings is always accompanied by increased creativity….guess what…as I write these words right now, I am feeling this increased mental clarity and increased creativity, because I worked out 1 hour prior to beginning this article.)

#4 You stop to help a stranger on the street who is down and out.
Believe it or not it is “YOU”, not the stranger who benefits the most when you help him/her.

Again, this may seem small and un-important but it make become the “MOST” important thing you do all day…after all, you don’t know how the rest of your day will go.

#5 You register to vote. Maybe you have never voted before. Maybe you will see an opportunity to get involved to help change the system instead of just being fed up with it. (no pun intended)

Many people gave their lives so that you would have the right to vote…how important is that?

Regardless of what you decide, the most important thing you can do today is simply ask the question. Ask the question everyday. Ask because you can. Ask because it matters. Ask because the answers will surprise you. Most important……..”ASK.”

Enjoy achieving what matters most to you today!
Cheers Shelley Taylor-Smith

PS: Need help deciding how to be more effective with focusing on what matters most and deal with overwhelm, frustration and stress with so much to do and only 24hrs a day to do it ….click here NOW

Forget dropping kilos or manically working out to get in tip top shape. All you have to do is change your mind. This week focus on feeling amazing. Treat yourself with kindness, shift your focus and watch how you can feel happier and healthier in just seven days!

You may want to stay in shape, but your mindset is focused on getting in shape. This makes you more susceptible to the fad diets and latest exercise gimmick on the market. You’re so focused on getting in shape that you’ll try almost anything regardless of how silly or difficult to follow it might seem, because you’re entirely focused on the short term goal.

4 questions to ask yourself before launching into your “Stay in Shape & Sizzle this Summer and Beyond 2010!”

Do you ever say “I’m going to eat more healthily … starting from Monday” every week? Do you ever say “Today is the start of the new healthier me!” If yes, then you may want to lose weight and get in shape for all the wrong reasons.

Don’t waste any more time biting off more than you can chew (and no, we don’t mean that piece of double-choc mud cake). Here are the four questions you should ask yourself before trying to losing weight, join the local community bootcamp or heck yeah; compete in the 20th Anniversary of the Rottnest Channel 20km Marathon Swim either as a solo/duo/relay….

1. Why do I want to lose weight? Why do I want to get in shape? Why do I want to swim to Rotto (and no the answer is not to get blotto)?
Ask it so… you’re completely honest with yourself.
People often talk about “wanting to lose a few” or “dropping five by bikini season”, but these reasons for losing weight are too vague. By asking why you want to lose weight, get fit and achieve the goal; you’re forcing yourself to get to the heart of your reason. Do you want to be healthy? Set a good example for your kids? Or something else? Only you know!

2. Are my goals realistic and achievable?
Ask it so… you’re not putting pressure on yourself.
Goals are an important part of getting in shape but make sure they’re reasonable. There’s no point aiming to lose 3kg week after week - it’s not possible or healthy. Just as much there’s no point training 10 workouts in the first week back at the gym or swim squad - it’s not good for you long term …despite your best intentions. If you’re unsure, run your goals past your Coach, partner or friend to see if you’re expecting too much of yourself. Remember, if you set out-of-this-world targets and don’t meet them, you’ll probably lose motivation and give up anyway. Keep them realistic and you’ll be well on your way to tackling your weight-loss/get-in-shape/Rotto Channel plan head-on.

3. What’s stopped me from achieving my goal before?
Ask it so… you learn from your mistakes.
By asking this question, you’ll definitely improve your chances of success the second (or third, fourth or fifth) time around. Your barriers could be anything from being time-poor, to feeling afraid of hitting the kitchen pantry, having one too many beers on a Friday night (knowing you have the 2hr killer session on Saturday morning); to turning to the wrong foods when you’re emotional or lacking a support network. Jot down a list of all your reasons so they never weigh you down (pun intended!) again.

4. How can I overcome the obstacles?
Ask it so… you can start achieving your goals.
Once you’ve identified your barriers, you can work out steps to overcome them. For example, if buying fast food lunches is holding you back, change this by doing a big cook-up on the weekend and eat leftovers for lunch instead. Or if you’re an emotional eater, try to work out what’s triggering your cravings or have a chat with a counsellor. Now if you get all fired up and then your passion fizzles out and you start hitting the snooze button resulting in missed gym/swim squad sessions, then it’s time to seriously consider why you’re failing to stay committed to what you said you would do. Look back and see if there is a behavioural pattern that you can identify. Don’t think of the barriers as setbacks – once you’ve identified them, you can turn your life around by overcoming them.

Wouldn’t you agree that life long health and fitness is what’s most important?

Of course creating an environment in your body and your mind is essential to achieving your goal. A person who is in shape in their 50s and 60s is a lot more impressive to me than someone who is lean and fit in their 20s and 30s. That’s because the dedication to maintaining the proper exercise plan and a sensible nutrition strategy for the rest of your life is rare to find. It’s a rare mindset.

Cheers to a happier and healthier you!
Shelley Taylor-Smith

P. S. If you want to achieve your goals with less overwhelm and greater energy levels, you might want to read what I have to say. It may help you with issues you are now facing. Click here to review past blog posts and read the articles now…

PPS: Want to Pick Shelley’s Brain? Email Shelley directly at champion@championmindset.com.au with subject header: “I want to Pick Shelley’s Brain” and send your enquiry/questions.