It All Comes Down to You

Everything you hope to accomplish in life lies in wait for you to act. You are solely responsible for the quality, course, and construct of your life. Every choice you make—from the use of your time to the selection of your mate—makes a difference. So, if you’ve been blaming everything and everyone for your “circumstances,” that stops right here, right now.  

If you are not happy with your life, the only one who can change things is you. Change is one of the most difficult things for people to accept because change introduces a new unknown to our life. Most people are uncomfortable with the unknown because they are afraid of what it will ask of them. 

Unfortunately, most people view change as a threat or as something that will require some kind of sacrifice or payment. The fact is, they’re right. Change will require something from you, but it will always give you something in return. This simple but powerful truth is based on the Law of Reciprocity, which tells us that if we give something of ourselves, we will receive, often in overwhelming abundance, something in return.

“Growth is painful. Change is painful. 

But nothing is as painful as choosing to remain stuck where you are.”

I get it, life can sometimes suck. Been there, done that…far more than I care to admit. But even the worst of circumstance is lined with opportunity. It’s there if you look hard enough. Oh, and keep in mind that there is always someone else who is worse off than you. So, as my military warrior friends would often say… 

“Embrace the Suck”. 

In other words, look for the good in an otherwise less-than-desirable situation and you will always find it. More often than not, when you look back upon a difficult time you will see the lessons with clarity. You may even value those moments as some of the best growth periods of your life as well.

A Universal Truth: You will always get what you settle for. 

Attitude is everything when it comes to creating the kind of life you desire. No matter what happens to you or around you, you have a choice. You can choose to feel sorry for yourself, project discontent, cast blame, and settle for mediocrity or…you can decide, right here and now that you are the master of your life. Does this mean you’ll never go through anything difficult or uncomfortable? No, but your attitude is the difference-maker in the perspective you cultivate in life. 

The formula is simple: what you project is what you get. So, instead of accepting the circumstances of life, choose instead to poke your finger into the eye of defeat and declare “enough!”

If you’re ready to wake up and take responsibility for your own life, then declare today as that day you will begin to reprogram the thoughts, beliefs, and actions that will set you on a new course. 

Here are a few simple habits that will empower you to change your perspective and begin projecting the right attitude to create the kind of life you desire. 

Be Grateful.

Most people give so much power to their misery that they overlook the magnificence of what is right in front of them at any given moment. Be thankful for what you already have and watch the miracles unfold before you. Be grateful for the people in your life, the fact that you have shelter, the sights, sounds, and scents you get to experience. 

Something happens when you stop to appreciate the things that are right in front of you. Colors become more vivid, details become more prevalent, and love grows as you become more attuned to the subtle nuances of life. There is nothing more tragic than wishing you had said or done something well after the opportunity has come and gone. Turn off the damn TV and appreciate what the silence has to offer. You may, in fact, hear the sounds of love that have been trying to make their way to you through the voices of your children or significant other. 

Dream.

Every great achievement, advancement, or contribution began in the mind of someone. They dared to dream and to believe that their dream was possible. Take some time to yourself to contemplate the power of your innermost self. Use your creative imagination to remove the limits of the natural world. Wake up to the possibilities that are waiting specifically for you to experience. 

Your greatest breakthrough lies in wait for you to unlock through the power of your imagination. Take stock of your unique abilities and pursue that which you have been called to do. Do not leave this world without knowing the gift of you.

“Imagination is everything. 

It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ~ Albert Einstein

Change your mindset.

Be rich-minded. Rich-minded people don’t focus solely on money but on the richness of life. This mindset adds to the quality of life they get to experience. 

Far too many people think there is not enough to go around in the world. Theirs is a fear-based mindset. Their answers are based on insufficiency and lack—things they cannot see…things they fear. A poor person’s mindset selects security above love, safety before self-expression, and protection over possibility.

Rich-minded people understand that, with a little creativity, a willingness to be unconventional, and an open mind, they can indeed experience an abundant life. When you build your life with the right mindset, you will see opportunities most others simply cannot see. This is the fundamental difference between those who do and those who don’t and those who can and those who won't. 

Be intentional.

You’re creating the reality of your life at this very moment. But chances are you’re not being very intentional about the reality you’re creating. Reality is subjective. That is, it is highly personal. Once you realize the power behind that statement you will quickly realize the power you truly have to shape your life through the reality you create. Once you realize that you are indeed choosing whether or not to believe something, then you can choose to believe that you can do something about it.

Grow.

Challenge yourself to grow. Produce more ideas than you need for yourself so you can share your wisdom and insight with others. True wealth and happiness reside in the spirit of giving. Produce more than you need for yourself so you can begin blessing others, blessing your community, and enriching your life in the process.

A simple exercise…


Change begins with action, so I’ll leave you with this. Write down the beliefs you have about yourself. On one side, list the things that empower you and move you forward, the things that make you more confident, that give you the courage to move forward. On the other side, list the things that hold you back or move you away from your goals. Chances are, you will begin to see with clarity the power you truly have and you will be compelled to do something about it. After all, it all comes down to…you. 

Until next time...

- G -

"Real and lasting change always begins with you." ~ G. Westfal 

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If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new article (currently about once per month), opt-in at my website: garywestfal.com

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COMING SOON!

Your Ultimate Guide to 

Setting and Achieving 

Every Goal You Can Imagine

“Gary Westfal rolls-up everything I have learned in a 40-year military career about Strategic Action Planning in one book.”

Lieutenant General Bradley Heithold, USAF (retired)

Coming Soon!

-----------------------

333The Power of Equilibrium

"A powerful book that provides an interesting

 cross-section of three different points of view for 

the balance of body, mind, and spirit."

~ Amazon Reader Feedback

Get your copy of this insightful book

on Amazon.com TODAY!

Available Now!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Get your copy of Gary's best-selling novel 

Dream Operative, 

 NOW AVAILABLE 

on Audible.com!

FEAR Is a Thief is on Amazon.com 
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life. 
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com

Here's to Your Abundant Life!

Stepping into a brand-new year is typically a time of reflection and of new beginnings.

We look back to take account of the good things we did to affect the life we’re now living. If we’re smart, we also examine the things we could have done better to provide more in terms of better health, wealth, and happiness.

With retrospect in our hip pocket, we look forward with renewed optimism at what lies ahead. The most common anticipation centers around our desire for more. It is tantamount to our inherent nature to not only survive but to thrive!

Most people think of abundance and prosperity as external factors, when, in fact, they are elements that are manifested by the way you think. This is great news because it essentially means that you already have everything you need to turn things around in your favor.

If you agree with the premise of living with abundance, all you have to do is…

Ask.

And then, follow a few simple mindset rules...  

1. Begin with gratitude

Gratitude is a perspective that announces your appreciation for goodness. If you start with thanksgiving for what you already have, then more will “automatically” be attracted to you through the Law of Attraction.

2. Think differently

Rich people live in a world of abundance. Poor people live in a world of lack and insufficiency. Each of these two groups think in accordance with their circumstances.

If you want to attract abundance and prosperity, you need to raise the level of your self-worth and let go of the limiting beliefs that are holding you back.

Abundance is energy. Most people live in an energy of lack and unawareness. They fear their finances. They feel stuck in situations and circumstances. And most are going through the motions and repeating the habits they were brought up to believe. 

Abundantly rich people understand that life doesn’t have to be an “either-or” situation. They build their lives on the premise that they can have “both”. This is not a matter of gluttony or selfishness. It is a thought process that influences the external conditions of life. Abundantly rich people also believe in the power of ASKING without regard to “how” abundance will flow to them, but rather, that it “will” flow to them, just because they asked.

3. Be Intentional

With every decision you make, you are creating your reality. But chances are you’re not being very intentional about the reality that you’re creating. Reality is subjective; if you realize that your reality is a result of your choices and decisions, then you can choose to believe that you can do something about it.

Take account of the beliefs you have about yourself. Focus on the things that empower you and be intentional to summon the courage to move forward. Your confidence will quickly follow.

4. Stop making excuses

Your ability to recognize and eliminate excuses is critical to opening the floodgates of abundance. Eliminating excuses is important because your future is important.

If you only get the future you work for, then what you work for should be pretty important. You probably want to get that right. If it affects your future, stop making excuses and get busy creating the content and conditions of a life you desire.

5. Seek to Add Value

Stand on any beach and look out over the ocean and there is seemingly no end to it all. There is, of course, but we can’t comprehend it, so we think the water is endlessly abundant. That’s how an abundant mindset works. You give away praise, recognition, compliments, ideas, knowledge, and money because you know there’s plenty to go around. What you give away will come back to you many times over. This, of course, is based on one of my favorite Universal Laws—the Law of Reciprocity.

6. Reinvest in Yourself

Explore the unique, endless possibilities within you. Remember, when you work on improving yourself, you’re adding to the creativity, vitality, and sheer wonder of your mind.

As you examine the year ahead, I challenge you to think abundantly. Think not in terms of what you need, but what you desire. When you do, your renewed mindset will open the door to an abundant world you’ve been withholding from yourself for far too long.

Here’s to your abundant year ahead.

Here’s to your abundant life!


Until next time...

- G -

"Abundance is not something we acquire, it is something we tune into."  ~ Wayne Dyer

-----------------------

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new article (currently about once per month), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Author

Once there, click on "G-Life! Magazine" in the left column.  You'll then be subscribed and will receive a notification whenever I publish a new article or provide updates to my books or appearances.  

If you like this post, please recommend it to others!

-----------------------

COMING SOON!

Your Ultimate Guide to 

Setting and Achieving 

Every Goal You Can Imagine

“Gary Westfal rolls-up everything I have learned in a 40-year military career about Strategic Action Planning in one book.”

Lieutenant General Bradley Heithold, USAF (retired)

Coming in the Spring of 2020

-----------------------

333The Power of Equilibrium

"A powerful book that provides an interesting

 cross-section of three different points of view for 

the balance of body, mind, and spirit."

~ Amazon Reader Feedback

Get your copy of this insightful book

on Amazon.com TODAY!

Available Now!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Get your copy of Gary's best-selling novel 

Dream Operative, 

 NOW AVAILABLE 

on Audible.com!

FEAR Is a Thief is on Amazon.com 
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life. 
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com

How to Avoid Wealth: 3 Things You're Doing Wrong

The world we live in is more competitive today than in any other time of our lives. There is no traditional route to success. This is good news for anyone with the vision, drive, motivation, and tenacity to seize an opportunity to create their own path to success. For everyone else, it seems that no matter what they do, they just can’t break free from the very lifestyle they despise. Why is that?

Here are three things keeping people from breaking out of the cycle of financial misery they’re in. A change in any one of these things leads to an understanding of the overarching difference-maker between those that have and those that don’t. A change in all of them leads to an escape of the perpetual cycle of insufficiency and misery in which you may currently find yourself.

By the way, if any of the following factors resonate and you get your feelings hurt, then you may want to pause and look in the mirror before you scoff and run away with your emotions. If, on the other hand, you acknowledge and own up to any that apply, you’ll have found yourself at the threshold of insight that can have a profoundly awesome effect on your life.

The Blame Game

The old adage, “Lame people blame people” applies here. These people use excuses (cleverly disguised as reasons) to justify their current circumstances. In reality, this is a protection mechanism designed for procrastinators. Blamers always use external factors to justify an internal condition.

To overcome this factor, become more aware of the statements that are coming out of your mouth. “I don’t have the time, money, expertise, or the support I need.” “I’ll never be wealthy.” “I’m not good with money.” “Oh sure, it’s easy for them. They have money.” Statements like these have no value in creating wealth and only serve to keep you stuck right where you are. Instead of blaming everyone or everything else, take a look at what you can do to change your circumstances.

The Fear Factor

Fear holds more people hostage than most any other factor. Whether it is fear of failure, fear of success, fear of making a mistake, or fear itself, there are more people who consciously choose to stay exactly where they are because they fear the unknown more than they fear what they have become familiar with — lack, insufficiency, and financial struggle. The fear factor is a protection mechanism that must be overcome in order to break out and begin the wealth-building process.

Fearful people routinely use phrases that begin with “What if…” and then support it with a negative word or phrase.

What if I fail?

What if lose?

What if it doesn’t work?

What if my friends (or family) don’t like me?

What if I make a mistake?

To overcome this factor, start small. Start by changing the way you think. Instead of supporting your “What if…” with a negative word or phrase, think instead of a positive word or phrase that empowers you to overcome your fearful thinking.

What if this is possible?

What if this really works?

What if I make new friends?

What if I win?

The difference between a negative and positive frame of reference is mind-altering.

The Excuses Ego

This one is fairly straight forward. You can make money, or you can make excuses, but you cannot make both. An excuse is nothing more than a lie you have convinced yourself to accept as truth. So, stop lying to yourself.

You can come up with several excuses to remain in your miserable financial circumstances or…you can come up with one powerfully compelling reason to escape them. By the way, circumstances are always temporary. You have the power to accept them as your fate or accept them as your teacher. Any way you slice it, you’re going to accept one.

To escape the excuses trap, accept responsibility for both your current circumstances and the circumstances you aspire to. Then take action to make the change.

A State of Mind

Each one of the three factors above point to one overarching factor — your state of mind. You see, while there are a number of actions you can take to become wealthy (save more than you spend, invest, cut costs, etc.), none of them will work if you don’t start with the right state of mind. It’s the reason why 70% of lottery winners end up worse off than they were before collecting their winnings. It’s the reason most businesses fail within the first three years. And it’s the reason you are still stuck in the very place you despise.

Change always begins with a mindset shift. It is not always comfortable or popular or easy, but it always produces change. Ready to make a shift but don’t know where or how to begin? Reach out to me in the comments section to start the discussion.

Until next time...

- G -

"Your income zone will never exceed your comfort zone." 

-----------------------

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about once per month), 
visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Author

Once there, click on "G-Life! Magazine" in the left column.  You'll then be subscribed and will receive a notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my books or appearances.  

If you like this post, please recommend it to others!
-----------------------

333

The Power of Equilibrium

"A powerful book that provides an interesting

 cross-section of three different points of view for 

the balance of body, mind, and spirit."

~ Amazon Reader Feedback

Get your copy of this insightful book

on Amazon.com TODAY!

Available Now!

***********

Step into the mind of Author Luc Vors.

"Keep producing things, great or small, and you will find that your 

creative mind will blossom with more and more ideas." 

***********

Check out the wise, knowledgeable, and often entertaining perspectives of Author Elisabeth Auld inside the editions of

 Gals in Blue.

************

Check out our new affiliate partner, J. Jane, a fascinating blog of mentorship for, by, and between women.

j. jane 

-------------------------------------------------------------

Get your copy of Gary's best-selling novel 

Dream Operative, 

 NOW AVAILABLE 

on Audible.com!

FEAR Is a Thief is on Amazon.com 
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life. 
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com