I’m not sure what the science says about the effects of wishing success and happiness for others, but quite honestly it doesn’t matter to me. I like it! And I don’t do it nearly enough.

In doing so, it gives me a feeling of objectivity – a sense of letting go of my focus of “what’s in it for me” and to turn my Love and kindness outward. I’m sure it’s self-serving as I feel better afterwards, but I don’t see any harm in that.

Often I grapple with the concept of competing (especially when it comes to sports) and allowing whatever is going to happen, to happen. Even if that means, I don’t come out on top. I’ve resolved myself into believing that I can compete on the field/pitch/court, but then once finished, I can wish the best for others and truly mean it.

After all, there’s more than enough to go around for all of us.

Sometimes I really do think about not having any motivation to do anything. You can hear me complain at times that I wish I was a couch potato. But, I really don’t think that’s true. I really don’t want that. I feel at times I am the laziest-disciplined person in the world. Why is that? Where does that come from?

The paragraph above is proof enough that we’re all neurotic. We all can struggle being objective with ourselves and our own effectiveness in this world. Why must we solicit compliments from others around us rather than seeing the merit in who we are right now? Today. Here in this moment. Tarnished. Maybe a bit broken, but ready to learn, grow and evolve.

Here’s an idea. Let’s go easy on ourselves. Let’s give us a break. Maybe give a little extra self-Love today. We’re all broken. We’re all tarnished and cracked. That’s what it is to be a human being. Let’s not beat ourselves up over it. Let’s just Love ourselves instead. Let’s treat ourselves like we’d treat a loved family member and always give them/us the benefit of the doubt.

We could all use that today. I know I can.

We can always find ways to be grateful for what we have in our lives. Whether that’s our health, friend’s, career’s or material things – we have the intellect to shift our perspective in order to find gratitude for what we have and where we are in this moment right now.

Whenever I get really sick and I’m laying in bed with aches and pains trying to keep everything down, I always say to myself, “I’m never going to take my health for granted again.” But inevitably, after a few weeks I completely disregard the fact that I’m able to go for a run, throw the baseball with my son or take a long walk with my wife pain free. Why?

It’s as if I’m back to the status quo. “Don’t you remember how awful you felt stuck in your bed just a couple short weeks ago?” The truth is: I’ve forgotten. We’ve forgotten It doesn’t mean we can’t remember. We can. We just need to shift our minds in order to see it. To feel it. It doesn’t take much.

It’s a shift of perspective to find the gratitude in the now. It’s everywhere. We just have to look.

In the movie The Truman Show, Jim Carrey’s character only discovers the “edge” of his universe (a soundstage wall with a door to the outside world) after he embarks on an epic journey when he decides to take a risk to explore the unknown.

I’m not quite sure our world can be compared to his, but nevertheless, we have the option of making the place we live in as expansive or confined as we desire. It’s a mindset. Often times we get stuck in a groove of repetition that can seem to limit ourselves in a variety of ways rather than serve as an infinite playground where anything is possible.

Only when we take a risk and get out of our comfort zone, can the magic of possibility become our ally. This “risk” has the potential of huge returns, and must not only be recognized, but sought out on a regular basis.

Only in the unknown lies the destiny of all we desire. Leaving the comfort of seeing the shoreline in the distance and stepping off our familiar lands is the singular and essential act in order to answer the call deep within us.

So, explore!

A little Love goes a long way.

A little Empathy can change someone’s day.

A bunch of Laughter will lighten our mood and going out of our way to help a stranger carries with it a powerful message.

We have moments in every day to make choices that allow the best version of ourselves to break through.

Why not make a habit of seeking those opportunities out as much as we can.

It may change us for the better – the rest of our days.