'SOME OF US FLY. SOME OF US DON'T.' (HAGGARD)

'SOME OF US FLY. SOME OF US DON'T.' (HAGGARD)

Some of us make it. Some of us won't. Some of us are desperate to make it happen and try to force themselves to go on an unsustainable path. Oh dear! The inevitable bust always follows. But then you may feel that your entire life is crashing down. If that ever happens to you, start again. 

Never give up. It could be the best experience in your life! This is only a fraction of your life, after all. Just keep calm. It's not the end of the world. We all make mistakes. Learning from your mistakes is what life is all about. Many famous people failed many times, before they succeeded. But you have to keep trying.

Maybe you were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe you worked with the wrong people. You should always try to analyse and understand your failures and successes. Just make sure, that staying down is not an option. That's why you should remain persistent in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Don't ever get scared. The scarier the challenges you face, the more strength you'll need and will get, one way or another. It's like magic. You'll get stronger as required. If you're not scared, the challenges may not be big enough! Complacency is your biggest enemy. 'Time and the world do not stand still' (JFK).

RICK SCHMULL

 

LIVE YOUR LIFE. DON'T WASTE IT.

LIVE YOUR LIFE. DON'T WASTE IT.

Never take your life for granted. You've got a job to do. Try and figure out, why you are on this earth in the first place. It may not be clear to you at first, but you're more important than you may think in the grand scheme of things. Prove you're worth. Go the extra mile. 

Today could not be your typical day. Who knows? Try to be firing on all cylinders. Just do your best. It might take you somewhere you've never been before. A new world. Just for you. Life is amazing. Be inspired by the incredible beauty around you. But that also means ignoring everything that would make your life miserable. What a waste. Don't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Keep your nose out of it. Keep moving on. You are, what you think you are, not what others think you should be. Seriously!

It doesn't matter, how long or short your life is, in order for it to be worthwhile. The small and pretty mayfly typically has a lifespan of just 1 day. Mayflies are essential in maintaining freshwater communities. Only 3,000 species are known worldwide. They work very hard. They have no time to waste!

RICK SCHMULL

LETTING GO OF THE PAST

LETTING GO OF THE PAST

Letting go of the past is a difficult process. But you'll have to focus on your future. You can't change your past anyway. Learn from it. Moving on is only possible, if you redirect your concentration on a new goal. A goal is everything in life. Without it, you would soon lose control. Building something in life is perfectly natural. That's the reason you get up in the morning!

If you're really struggling to let go, remember, it'll take time. That's O.K. Just reflect on what happened in the past from time to time. That's the way to come to terms with any significant change in your life. Deal with it. Confront it. You have to. Covering it up is no option. 

What if you truly had a blank slate right now? What if you would be just waiting for your first experience? When you were young and 'unspoilt', didn't you feel beautiful? You were unaffected by any traumas at all, right? You were so eager and excited. There's no reason whatsoever, that you can't repeat that excitement. There's no age limit! The best time in life often occurs as you get older.

RICK SCHMULL

HEAD NOR TAIL

HEAD NOR TAIL

Sometimes you can't make head nor tail of something. You're unable to understand something at all. Have you exhausted your bag of magic tricks? Of course not. You never know, what you'll pull out of that bag of yours. No matter how complicated something may appear to be, you'll always find a way to deal with it. Don't give up. Isn't your life all about the cracking of hard nuts? It's just a further challenge as you're living your life!

Dream the impossible. That's how the world is moving forward. The magic of imagination. Write down the outcome you want. You'll be surprised, that you're actually now on your way! You set the wheels in motion. But make sure, that your visualization is about creating a positive version of your future. Because only then you have a chance to achieve the best possible outcome.

Nothing can keep you from visualizing the potential reality of your future. Practice and rehearse this ability mentally. Anybody can do it. That's why very simple souls have become so successful. Genius, talent and education are no guarantee at all for success. Complacency is the enemy. 

There is always a path to victory. Get rid of your fears and doubts. Your vision is everything. Close your eyes. When you open them, take immediate action. Don't underestimate the power of visualization and action. Today is the day!

RICK SCHMULL

DON'T EVER PUT YOURSELF DOWN

DON'T EVER PUT YOURSELF DOWN

Speaking and thinking about yourself must always be positive. Your life depends on it. Create the energy needed, that will allow a better, richer and healthier life for you in years to come. Just imagine yourself, where you want to be next. Your goals help you move forward. It's like driving a car to a certain destination. If you don't know, where you're going, you wouldn't get anywhere. 

Nobody is perfect. That includes you. Don't dwell on the things you shouldn't have said or done. Make a habit of ignoring a past, which is better best forgotten. Life goes on. Your future is determined by your dreams of today. All your imperfections are part of you and make you unique. Putting yourself down could yield unintended results. Perfectionism requires you to appear perfect and could make you obsessive. You don't need to be always at your best. That's unrealistic. Just make sure, that you lead an authentic life. Because then you can be at ease and get things done correctly.

You're human and you'll be insecure and vulnerable at times. Welcome to the club. Your flaws may be your strength! Your mistakes may well be deliberate! Who knows? Always focus on developing a better and real version of yourself. 'The best is yet to come'. No matter what! Because that'll keep you going. 

RICK SCHMULL

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TEMPTED TO SHOOT FROM THE HIP?

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TEMPTED TO SHOOT FROM THE HIP?

Reacting in seconds and not taking the time to consider your options, may lead to disaster. Reacting under pressure, is never a good idea. Being overconfident is risky. You may not be as knowledgeable as you think. It's much better to take a break! Step away from whatever you're doing. Even short time-outs are better than none. That's your chance to 'reset'. Constantly pushing yourself is stressful and can lead to burnout. Without a recharge, you are liable to make decisions, which you may regret later. 'I don't know' may be a hard thing to say, but it's easy to think that way. Don't try to look smart!

Listen to music or take a walk with your four-legged friend, if you have one. You have to find a way to unwind. This is essential in order to avoid becoming increasingly anxious. Anxiety affects your performance. There are also relaxation techniques to think about. Whatever works best for you.

Your goal is to increase your productivity. That could suffer, if you're on the job all the time. Don't feel guilty. Don't fear embarrassment. Make sure you're in control. Try to change the culture, if necessary. Your wellbeing is at stake. Otherwise the Cons will outweigh the Pros. Before you know it, you'll be farther from home than ever before.

RICK SCHMULL

ARE YOU A MOVER AND SHAKER?

ARE YOU A MOVER AND SHAKER?

Movers and shakers are considered to be very influential.  You may think, that you're influencing others, but, in reality, maybe others have you in their pocket. You may not be as strong as you would like. Others may have been able to dangle money and power in front of you. Or you are compromised by others. Then you are not the mover, but the one to be moved. Oh dear!

You're probably craving respect, even more than money and power. Is 'losing face' your biggest nightmare? Do you demand respect 'or else'? Others may feel, that they would otherwise pay a price. Maybe you demand loyalty above everything else. Maybe you're longing for limitless admiration, like a narcissist. Maybe you've been driven to it. But then it gets complicated. If others follow you blindly, they'll turn against you at the next available opportunity. Oh dear!

Being a mover and shaker is certainly not for everyone. It may not be worth it. Close your eyes and reflect on the possible pros and cons. What are the payoffs and sacrifices? Be aware of what you really want to accomplish in life. Your life could be so much easier, if you're not in the limelight.

RICK SCHMULL

DON'T DROP THAT BALL

DON'T DROP THAT BALL

Once you've decided to play ball, don't drop that ball. You need to be able to catch every ball thrown at you. Play catch as much as you can, even while running. That should become your second nature. Try to develop great hand-eye coordination. And get some sticky gloves!

Becoming an awesome player, doesn't happen overnight. It takes constant practice. In real life, you've got a mission to accomplish. You may be among the chosen few and 'unfinished business' is not an option. Don't be anxious about it. That may cause more harm than good. Just keep moving and you'll bound to be successful. Keep chasing your dream. Anybody can do it. A superior strategy and persistence will win every time. As long as you keep everything simple, you don't have to be educated. As long you're driven, even the strongest dynasties will be defeated. This has happened in history many times.

Weaker actors can conquer much stronger actors. Easy! Just watch a cat against much bigger animals. Cats are independent, They prefer going their own way. But even a cat cannot afford to drop the ball, because getting away fast enough may still become necessary.

RICK SCHMULL

THE MAGIC OF THE UNSEEN

THE MAGIC OF THE UNSEEN

Whatever you create, allows you to enter the unseen world. The unseen world is beyond your understanding. It is limitless and offers fantastic possibilities. You are part of something much larger. In creating something, you operate on faith. No proof is needed. It's as if an invisible hand is guiding you in a certain direction. There is no need to understand it.

Focus on moments, that take your breath away. Sometimes a beautiful rainbow around the sun can be observed. Nature is amazing! A glimpse of the unseen is all you need to be longing for more. Forget science. Science always plays a difficult game of catch-up to what nature has in store for you. Being grateful for the experience of reality, not the theoretical, is all you require. You aim to become practical in real life anyway, not a life based on far-out concepts.

Without you, there wouldn't be something, that wasn't there before. You are surrounded by everything you can and cannot imagine, but only you can start the ball rolling. You'll never cease to be amazed about what you can do. Just keep thinking 'make my day'! You'll rarely know, what makes a day 'great'. No one can know. But if your day doesn't turn out to be 'perfect', that may be exactly, what was needed at that particular time.

RICK SCHMULL

WHY, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING?

WHY, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING?

Why is nearly everyone around you so 'down'? Why is there a boom in antidepressants? The global economy isn't great, but holding up. Jobs are plentiful, while workers are scarce. There are wars, as usual, but they haven't widened yet. Food and energy have become more expensive, but rationing hasn't been introduced yet. Fear mongering about climate change, pandemics and World War III is nothing new. So what does it take for you to become more cheerful, with signs of Utopia all around you?

Is there a general feeling, that society is no longer thriving or able to thrive at all? Is society about to implode? Is liberal democracy doomed? Will freedom of movement and of speech become severely restricted? Has '1984' of George Orwell finally arrived? 

Has the fear of overpopulation and accelerating migration become a real issue? If so, aggression around you will get much worse. You'll need to live in a gated community! You'll need to be able to defend yourself. The call for a dictator will become stronger. It's happened in history countless times. Animals tend to defend their territory against intruders. Even birds, by song. Therefore, stay alert and hope for the best. You'll be protected. If not, too bad. Your time has come or not.

RICK SCHMULL

DO IT NOW

DO IT NOW

Don't put off doing things. Do it now. Make the most of 'now'. 'Now' is the moment you've got control over. Seize this precious moment! Who knows, what happens next? Things can change all of a sudden. It could all be gone tomorrow. There will only be so many opportunities opening up in your life. Just live your days, one day at a time, and be very grateful for being given opportunities at all. Life is a gift, after all.

Make the most of your precious life. There is so much to live for. Even if things aren't exactly going according to plan, ignore the few bumps along the way. Those are trivial in the grand scheme of things. You're alive and well! That's enough reason for you to be excited, as soon as you get up in the morning. You'll look forward to another day, another blank piece of paper. What will today bring? Will it be the best day you've ever had? Who knows?

Reward yourself by saying 'you did it' and 'you made it'. A pat on the back by yourself for a job well done. Avoid negative thoughts. Don't make yourself miserable. Ask yourself 'what's it to you', whenever you're confronted with the nightmares of others. You have to go your own way, without appearing to be selfish. Everybody is different. You have to take advantage of your moments.

RICK SCHMULL

AND SO THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

AND SO THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

At some point in life, you'll be faced with another challenge. That will make you begin your own adventure. Once your adventure begins, you have to keep focused on the reward at the end of your journey. Think about it all the time. That allows you to come face-to-face with difficult tests along the way and to get through. There always is light at the end of any tunnel. That should help you to persevere and never give up. Surviving any ordeal will make you a formidable opponent of anyone or anything, that may stand in your way later. 

Your adventure may have solved the issues of your initial fears and insecurities. You are now ready to take on the world. You're much stronger now. How is your relationship with yourself? If you've been able to patch things up with yourself, you'll be able to accomplish, what you wish or need to do now. You'll be able to control your traumatic experiences of the past. 

Don't feel bad about feeling bad. This shows you want to do better. Keep going! The darkness you may be feeling is never permanent. 'What's the point?' is never the right question. You need to muster all the strength and energy, that allows you to go on .. and on. Find your purpose in life. You're an essential part of the world's creation. You've been given a special role. Do you already feel the excitement of your adventure?

RICK SCHMULL

LET'S PRETEND

LET'S PRETEND

' Fake it till you make it'? The positive side to pretending is that you may be about to really enjoy yourself. Happiness is much better for your health than sadness. It is worth imagining a whole new life! You may need to experience a spiritual rebirth. It could boost the confidence in yourself and increase control of your life. Your facial expression will change if you are able to focus on something else than the apparent dreary reality. 

Your life is not unchangeable. Go back to the time, when you were a baby. You then began to walk and talk. You also began to pretend, as you played with stuffed animals and colourful dolls. You should realize, that thoughts, not reality, guide most of your actions and emotions. In order to get on in the world, you have to be creative and flexible. That may mean not to go with the flow. Then you'll have to deal with all the consequences of being considered to be an eccentric. It is what it is.

Practice the art of simulation. That's when your creativity comes into play. Turn your dreams into reality. 'If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough'. Think of the times, that you lost loved ones. From time to time, you'll have to take a few moments to reflect on them still being there. Let's pretend. Otherwise, you may have difficulty in dealing with their loss.

RICK SCHMULL

ONLY JUST. REPEAT.

ONLY JUST. REPEAT.

Did you only just make it? Did you squeak through? So you succeeded, but barely? Close calls and near misses are part of life. Nobody will remember and you shouldn't either. The most important thing in life is 'NEXT'. And just like the moon, you'll go through 'phases of light and dark and of everything in between' (Rituraj on X).

Even if you're successful by the skin of your teeth, you're a winner. That's your best revenge! You always must plan to be a winner. Against all odds, you can still win. That happens all the time. It could be you, as long as you prepare and expect to win. It's all a matter of pretending you've already given yourself the greatest prize this world has to offer. That prize will then be yours even before you had ever imagined, that it could be. Who says you can't have it all?

Never fear losing what you've won. You can't take it with you! But your spirit will live on. Since the beginning of time, billions of human beings have passed through these different phases of life. Just repeat.

RICK SCHMULL