Saturday 23 March 2024

LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES

LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES

Your life is unpredictable. You often expect something to happen, but something else happens instead. Or nothing happens at all. A delightful surprise may light you up like a christmas tree. An unpleasant one may do the opposite. No matter, life goes on. A lot of things seem to come about by accident. You just know, how it happened. Make sure, that you remain flexible. Then the unexpected will visit you more often.

If you're locked into a detailed plan, the biggest surprise could be, that nothing happens, that you haven't planned. But you've blocked any contribution by the unexpected. You may have to let go for awhile. Because then the deeper part of you may get a chance to develop into something more. The unexpected may appear, again and again.

Try to become a master in trusting yourself. Why rely on others? Your own wisdom is beyond your understanding anyway. Your creative energy may release all expectations of what should be. That's something you couldn't have planned in the first place. Expect a surprise. Things may come through you in the moment like a bolt out of the blue!

RICK SCHMULL


Thursday 21 March 2024

DO YOU GET IT?


DO YOU GET IT?

So how do you get, where you want to be? Be focused and clear. Get going! What counts is the journey, not the destination. The road to success is always under construction anyway. The harder you work, the luckier you get. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence and determination. Not talent, not genius, not education (Calvin Coolidge). So basically you can always get, where you want to be. Do you get it?

It really doesn't matter who you are or where you came from. Why not perform a background check on yourself? Is all the available information about yourself correct? Don't underestimate the more or less extensive screening process, used by others, in order to evaluate, who you really are. But whatever such an evaluation, you'll be unstoppable, if your dreams are BIG enough. If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't BIG enough. Do you get it?

Your goal is not perfection. Your goal is to see, what others are unable or unwilling to see. Your goal is to express, who you really are and where you are on your particular journey. Then others will be attracted to your point of view. Others will become the viewers! Expressing yourself is all that matters. Even if you move forward in the dark. Do you get it?

RICK SCHMULL

Tuesday 19 March 2024

YOU'RE THE ARTIST


YOU'RE THE ARTIST

One way or another, you're the artist. You're creating something all the time. It wasn't there before! That's why you're living in a world of your own creation. By the way, as a human being, you're a work of art yourself. There is a time for everything. A time to plant, a time to harvest. All of nature seems to react to some kind of a timetable. The inevitable rhythm of life! Just amazing.

You don't really have to analyze how to live your life in whatever way. You're making use of what the Great Universe is making available to you at any given time. There seems to be no logic to it. Don't worry! You'll act like an innocent child, trying out new things, around the clock. You're constantly looking for the missing piece of a puzzle, as if you're fulfilling a mission. That mission is to do good, most of the time.

You're on the way of achieving a goal, without you really knowing, what's going on. You may feel, that you have no control over the way things are going. Don't worry! You'll become aware, when the time is right. No matter, what happens, it all happens through you. YOU'RE THE ARTIST.

RICK SCHMULL

Saturday 16 March 2024

TIRED, RATHER THAN RETIRED


TIRED, RATHER THAN RETIRED

Your life's work is never done. There will always be another dawn. Don't even think of 'riding into the sunset' like a cowboy in an ancient American Western. There never should be a time for you to move on to a life without work. If you do that, you're asking for trouble. That kind of seemingly long-awaited retirement should be shunned. You should simply move on to just another phase of your life. You should dream of 'riding into another sunrise'. A life without limits! Only then will you be able to increase the quality of your life.

You may be worn out, but never beaten. Look for a meaningful replacement activity. You'll be spoiled for choice! The world needs you. The world cannot afford 'useless eaters'. You should make yourself feel 'ageless'. No kidding! If you are willing and able to continue your contribution, you'll be allowed to go on. And on. You'll be energized. Otherwise, your inactivity could be dangerous. Boredom is the enemy of life. 

Aging could be the future of living. You should be actively moving in the direction of new adventures. You can't wait to experience, what's next! Each new day could be full of new beginnings. There's more to life than merely looking back. Be grateful for the privilege of being part of this world and ignore all the cons. The pros always outweigh the cons. Make sure to keep it that way. If you ever have to change course, so be it.

RICK SCHMULL



Thursday 14 March 2024

WHEN THE BLOOM IS OFF THE ROSE


WHEN THE BLOOM IS OFF THE ROSE

Is something no longer as exciting as it used to be? Go after new ideas! Sooner or later, everything will be out-of-date anyway. Times change. It seems, that the pace of change is accelerating. Those life-long careers, for instance, may have gone out of the window. You'll have to change course frequently. Are you ready for new challenges more often than you would have expected? 

But nature is amazing. A new cycle, perhaps more rewarding than the last, is always just around the corner. That's why you should always do 'something'. Keep your mind sharp. Dream about great things in the future. Stop waiting for the end of today's uncertainties. How will you position yourself for the inevitable better times ahead? Rolling downturns, which occur at irregular intervals, are part of life. They provide you with an opportunity to right and steer your ship. The specific timing of anything is impossible to predict. But new technologies are constantly reshaping the world and you can be part of the next wave. 

Don't put all your available capital at work all at once. A gradual approach is preferable by far. It's never too late to consider a strategy of investing a fixed amount on a regular basis. This may lower your stress level for sure! You don't have to watch the markets all the time. You're participating in the action, regardless of price. Timing is a high-risk strategy at all times anyway.

Keep focused on your budgeting money practices. Ten to twenty percent of your income should be available for savings and investment, while the remainder should take care of your needs and wants. This discipline is always a challenge and sometimes requires sacrifices. But whenever the bloom is off the rose, you've got something to fall back on!

RICK SCHMULL

 

Sunday 10 March 2024

ARE YOU THINKING FOR YOURSELF?


ARE YOU THINKING FOR YOURSELF?

Are you allowed to think for yourself? But aren't we all in the same boat? If you want to win a boat race, you'll have to suffer. You'll have to be very competitive. You'll need to create a team that's all on the same page. You'll have to forget thinking for yourself.

That's why most of the world's population have beliefs, which are not really their own. Do you also feel  your life is dictated by forces outside of your control? Manipulation of human thought is as old as time itself. It can sneak up on you. But who wants to be a loner? Since your addiction to the smartphone, you've probably broken the habit of a normal human connection long ago. So you have now become easy prey for all kinds of sharks. They may be out to get you.

How will you know, what you should do if you don't think for yourself? If you would simply do what you're being told to do, you 'll have trouble seeing the light. You could be going in the wrong direction. Without the freedom of independent thinking, it'll be hard to get at the real truth. Think about the things you would do differently without all the propaganda around you. But you don't want to cause any trouble. You don't want to 'rock the boat'. The very influential people running the show want you to do just that.

RICK SCHMULL




Friday 8 March 2024

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE WORLD


HOW TO DEAL WITH THE WORLD

No one can be sure, what will happen. But you're not on your own. You've got very valuable skills of your own and no one can take these away from you. Focus on developing your particular skills, because you need to be prepared to use these. Your life is on a rollercoaster. Nothing stays the same. You'll be faced with sudden changes. That's why you'll move on and on --- and on.

Time is precious. Don't waste it. You have to try and limit the temptation to get distracted. Don't get side-tracked. But you can still have some fun! Life doesn't need to be boring at all. But life is short. Make the best of it, as long as your health permits. If your health deteriorates, your life becomes a real struggle, but never, never lose faith in yourself and never, never lose hope. Life is always about overcoming the worst. Every one gets lucky from time to time and you will too.

When things seem bleak, picture yourself in a successful outcome and positive change is bound to happen. Detach yourself from seemingly insurmountable challenges. You'll find a way! Start daydreaming. Life is amazing. As the world turns, you'll be given the key to focus on the good and the good gets better. Opportunities are endless and everywhere. Remember the songs 'Fly me to the moon' (Bart Howard, 1954) and 'The best is yet to come' (Coleman, 1959), as recorded by Frank Sinatra.

RICK SCHMULL