IN HARM'S WAY

IN HARM'S WAY

Do you sometimes have a tendency to act in an irrational way? Do you engage in dangerous activities because they give you a short-lived kick? Just don't! That is not the Real You. Be yourself. Or are you very anxious to appear to be someone else and not who you really are? Have you lost your natural survival instinct in exchange for something that is unknown?

If you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, you usually, if possible, want to survive another day. It's very sad if you ever feel, that the joy of living isn't worth it. Life is a gift, not to be squandered. Don't take unnecessary risks. Don't act without thinking very hard. Don't put up with whatever tends to make you miserable. 

Be your own hero, not someone else's. Stand up for yourself. Speak and listen to yourself. You don't know, how strong you really are, till hardships threaten to engulf you. Focus on what you can do and what you shouldn't do. Turn to those activities, where time just seems to disappear. You must be your own best friend. You don't have to put yourself in harm's way!

RICK SCHMULL

WHO SAID YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL?

WHO SAID YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL?

'Just not all at once.' (Oprah Winfrey). We all desire to be happy. It's your eternal crusade! It's your destiny. You can be flat broke and still be happy. Your real wealth cannot be measured. You can be wealthy in material things and very unhappy. It's all in the mind. 

Greed and envy cause a lot of stress. Wouldn't you sometimes wish to be just an unemotional robot? Not really. Make the best of what you have. Keep reinventing yourself. Then you'll never get bored. Ignore all the reminders of everything you're unable to become. Then you'll look forward to what the next day has in store for you. Life is full of surprises. 

Everyone needs a regular reset. In hard times, you need a return to joy. You'll always have some true relationships, several shoulders to lean on, your own wonderful past experiences, your music, your books. Forget the strangers on social media. That's a trap.

Just imagine, whatever makes you happy. Get a feeling of richness and you could be very rich, while poor. Do you feel inspired yet? You can have it all and that'll really bring a smile to your face.

RICK SCHMULL

LET'S GET IT OVER WITH

LET'S GET IT OVER WITH

The sooner you start, the sooner you'll get it over with. Since you cannot avoid it, you want to finish it quickly. Sometimes you have to do something you don't like to do. But everyone will have to bite the bullet from time to time. That'll clear things up!

Sometimes you'll have to face the music. That's why you tend not to do certain things, which could have consequences. Sometimes people get away with it, but don't bet on it. Even unwise decisions taken ages ago, tend to suddenly come back to haunt you. Surprising, but true. Time, in this case, does not heal.

What really matters is, when you say and do just the right thing from time to time. It could be the spark that sets off a whole range of developments, which would make quite an impression on others. Rather than what you wear or how you look, it's the way you make people feel that makes the world go round and around. So getting rid of any lingering doubts about your past actions quickly, would open up new possibilities for you in the future. The future is yours to create!

RICK SCHMULL

I DID IT!

I DID IT!

Sometimes you need to celebrate how unique you really are. There is no one like you. That's a miracle in itself. You're surrounded by miracles, but you often think of them as commonplace. Reaching any milestone is well worth a standing ovation. But accomplishments against all the odds should put a big smile on your face. Dreams do become reality all the time. But you'll have to stay awake. 

Did you do it all by yourself? Good job! You need to be encouraged by yourself from time to time. Others will inevitably claim the credit. That's human nature. Of course, teamwork is nearly always involved. But there is a guiding light most of the time. Everyone in the team tries to contribute. But there is a stroke of genius by one person, which could well be you, that makes all the difference. 

Are you actually a genius without realizing it? Are you dreaming up new ideas constantly? Are you capable of thinking outside of the box? If you're not just a conventional thinker, you may well become the magician of the next miracle. You can look forward to saying 'I did it!'

RICK SCHMULL

THE COUNTDOWN

THE COUNTDOWN 

Don't waste any time of your life on crap. Your clock is ticking! A clock that's counting down to the end of your life is very much active. All the time! It's out of your control. But as long as you're aware, that your time is more precious than ever, you'll cherish each moment. Lost time cannot come back. 

Is such a countdown positive? You may find, that you'll understand, that your time is indeed limited. But the final end always feels like a long way away. Should you really care? You'll be around as long as you'll be around. But the countdown may change your priorities. Precious moments can become memories. Be very grateful for these memories. They will support you with whatever happens next.

Is it really worth thinking about this at all? The only thing that matters is that your life should have a purpose. Because then your life and your spirit have no end. The end becomes meaningless. 

RICK SCHMULL

LARGER THAN LIFE

LARGER THAN LIFE

Are you a larger-than-life character? Maybe your life is an act. If so, can you keep it up? Attracting attention isn't for everyone. Too much scrutiny may unmask your true character. If you manage to remain 'under the radar', you may be able to get much more done. Otherwise, you may be in for a rude awakening to possible disagreeable facts if others try to explore things that are best forgotten. Publicity attracts flies, so to speak. 

You may relish being in the limelight. Feels good, doesn't it? The downside is, that you're probably not in control anyway. Why not allowing things to happen instead of making things happen. Better let go of your fear for things spinning out of control. Whatever comes your way, you should be okay with that. That's good for your heart rate! There never is one 'right' path. So being larger-than-life risks you becoming a liability. Oh dear!

Trying to control things may make you less in control. Stop pushing against reality with your larger-than-life way of doing things. All you want in life is getting rid of stress. For sure! Once you let your boat float downstream, you can quit the hard fight against the current. Wonderful! What are you afraid of? Let the chips fall where they may. You'll live to see another day.

RICK SCHMULL

(SCHMULL) - 'NO PAIN, NO GAIN'

(SCHMULL) - 'NO PAIN, NO GAIN'

The moral of this phrase is, that the reward is worth it in the end. Who knows, you may get lucky and the 'pain' is short-lived. Or you're 'on a roll' and 'on fire'. You suddenly discover, that you can achieve much more than you ever thought. You're only using a fraction of your potential anyway. So any 'pain' may well open up a host of new possibilities, which you didn't realize at first. That's why it's sometimes important to push yourself beyond your perceived limits.

Any discomfort caused may not necessarily be beneficial for you. Know your limits! Everyone is different. First and foremost, you should never try to be like someone else. That would be a mistake. Better make sure, what you're good at and why. Only then will you be able to really excel according to your real potential. 

Your fate is in your hands. Your future may seem unpredictable. But why not pretend, that your future depends on your own thoughts. 'Fake it till you make it'? Just form a mental picture of your desired situation. Dream about it all the time. You'll be surprised at your strength, which overcomes all 'painful' challenges ahead, as long as you stay positive and grateful.

RICK SCHMULL 

COMING RIGHT UP

COMING RIGHT UP

It's happening soon! Almost ready! A somewhat casual reply to a request. You hope so, because you're waiting for it anxiously. It's exactly the kind of thing you need now. But are you really in such a hurry? When you rush, you can make critical errors. Faster may not always be better. On the contrary. Safety and efficiency are at stake. Better take your time and certainly don't cut corners.

If you're highly competitive, you often have a driven personality. That's fine, but know your limits. Your health should never be affected. If anything holds you up, you could become irritable with anyone and anything that gets in the way. Better to accept, that whatever is meant to happen will happen. It is, what it is.

You may want to take a break. There is no reason to feel guilty about practicing self-care. You may have to learn, how to slow down. That could make all the difference! Take control of your life. Life in the fast lane involves a lot of pressure. Is it worth it? Sure, it can be exhilarating, but are you giving yourself a moment to breathe?

Your typical day seems to fly by. Make sure, that you've not missed out on maintenance. No rollercoaster can go without it. Don't wear yourself out! How many close relationships do you really have? Your 'always on' smartphone doesn't help. How can you focus, when you're pulled in so many different directions? You may be missing out on what your life is really all about.

RICK SCHMULL

NO SAFE PLACE FOR THE UNSPEAKABLE

There is and never was a safe place for the unspeakable about the issues of the day. You may be right 100%, but if you are faced with an incredibly powerful adversary, forget it. You'll be destroyed. Better not bare your soul. In life, you'll have to fight your corner all the time. Better to keep everyone guessing, what you're up to. The last thing you should do is to share your possibly controversial opinions with the public. Keeping your mouth shut is hard, but necessary for survival. Whatever you say or write, could break you.

You should have an obsessive desire to lead a wonderful and healthy life. There should be no place for controversy. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a different background. Everyone has certain beliefs, for whatever reason. Don't let anyone ruin your day. Try to control your temperament. You may be able to think critically, but is it wise to voice your criticism at this time? Fighting for the truth may be an honourable thing to do, but remember, that it may be very reckless to poke your nose into another's business. There are many ways to silence critics. That could happen to you too.

Silence should become an important part of your life. A silent environment will help you to concentrate on what works best for you. You'll become more creative, without all the headaches. Practice it! Reduce your stress level. Improve your productivity. Develop your patience, which is essential for achieving your goals.

RICK SCHMULL

YOUR GREATEST WORK IS YET TO COME. ALWAYS.

YOUR GREATEST WORK IS YET TO COME. ALWAYS.

There is no such thing as being at the top of your game. Stay focused. Don't get distracted. Keep pushing. It's hard, no doubt about it. But as long as you make sure, that your motivation is on the right track, you can't go wrong. Try to achieve specific milestones, one at a time, which make all your efforts worthwhile. Maintain the necessary pace. Only allow yourself to slow down, if you feel you're really on your way. Doesn't it make your spirits soar, if you get closer and closer to your goal? 

Business-as-usual may not always be appropriate. Become more creative. There is no way to know if it will be better or worse. It may well be different! But it's all part of life. Especially if you're headed for your next personal mountaintop. That's why challenging yourself constantly is a proven method to stay energetic. Once you're in motion, you keep looking forward to what happens next. Otherwise you may fall back and Heaven forbid, you may actually run into a hungry Bear. Another potential distraction you would wish to avoid.

To get ahead, you have to stay ahead. Never be tempted to put things off. Everything else can wait. It's fine to make mistakes. Life is a learning experience. You have to figure out, how to do better next time. Love, what you do. Enjoy the ride!

RICK SCHMULL