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My Ten Tips for a Balanced Healthy Life in 2014

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Cornerstone Business Group Inc 0225086119

1. Focus - Determine what your distractions are and eliminate as many as possible. Some things are just that, distractions, and they cheat you out of moving forward.

2. Get Healthy - Eat foods that don't rob you of energy and good health.  Sleep what your body needs.  Exercise consistently, effectively and efficiently.  Avoid fad diets, avoid fad foods and avoid fad exercise.

3. Educate Yourself - Learn more about those things that propel you forward.  Don't seek advice from failures.  Look for people who have succeeded at the place you want to go to and seek their advice, experience and wisdom.  Read good books, listen to successful leaders and learn the mechanics of your field of choice.  And remember, everyone pays their dues.  Make every day a learning day.

4. Invest in Healthy Relationships - Reduce the takers in your life, and increase the givers.  Some people only cause you heartache and misery.  And then again, some people bring you great joy.  Ask yourself,  "How do I feel after I've spent time with this person?" or,"How do I feel after I've talked to this person on the phone or through a text message?"  If you're excited and inspired, you've found a fountain.  If you're exhausted, you've found a drain.

5. Make Money Your Servant - Pay yourself first (at least 10% of everything).  Try to give more to your favorite charity or your church, and do it out of a generous heart.  There is a law of giving and receiving that profits you above and beyond your generosity.  Pay off debts.  The borrower is servant to the lender.  Break the shackles of debt so that it doesn't become a course distraction.

  6. Do Something Out of Your Comfort Zone - Go on a canopy glide, go sailing or take a trip to a country where you don't speak the language, etc.  It's intense and it makes you feel very alive.

7. Bury Your Past - Don't let the past direct the future.  Everybody makes mistakes.  Allow yourself the freedom to get past it.  Others may not want to let you leave your mistakes behind, but it's your choice.  Don't look back.  Images in the mirror are bigger than they appear.  Don't look in the rear view mirror.  Your goals are ahead.

8. Renew Your Spiritual Life - A core relationship with God is an anchor in the storms of life.  Some days you need an anchor.  Other days, you need a sail.   A healthy relationship with God will provide both.  Know the difference between a true spiritual relationship with God and one that is only on the surface.   Pray, study God's Word and give Him your time.  I promise, you can't out give God.  If you give Him your life.  He will give you His. 

9. Extend Forgiveness - It's hard to walk up a hill with someone on your back.  Holding anger and resentment toward other people really only holds you back.  It rarely hurts the offenders.  There are people who you may not feel are worthy of forgiveness, but as long as you hold on to their offenses they are still controlling your life.  Extend forgiveness, and throw off the shackles of bitterness, resentment and anger.  If this seems too difficult, refer to #8.

10. Love More & Love Sincerely - Tell those you love that you really love them, and then go a step further.  Show it.  Don't wait for the next funeral to remember all the people you haven't told how important they are in your life. Tell them now while it counts.  You might be the only encouragement some people ever get, and you might be that one lifeline someone needs in an undisclosed time of distress. 

 

Comments(24)

Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Roger, have a very Happy New Year, and thank you for your support throughout the year. 

Dec 27, 2013 10:52 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Mike, I think this is a great formula for a happy New Year and beyond!  

Dec 27, 2013 11:09 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I love this list Mike, I need to bookmark as a reminder in the future.

Suggested!

Dec 28, 2013 12:17 AM
Tg Glazer - The Right Realtor® for the Right Results!
Coldwell Banker, Westfield, NJ - Cranford, NJ
Westfield/Cranford, NJ area

These are not just tips for 2014, but for all time!  :-)

Dec 28, 2013 12:20 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Terrific post Mike. I'm currently working on 3 out of your 10.

Regular exercise. Haven't done much of that in my life. Started walking once a week at the local rec center. They have an indoor track and I have no excuses NOT to walk. Flat surface and comfortable indoor temps!

Healthy relationships. I have a few broken relationships that I'm working to mend. I've had a bit of success so far. Feeling really good about it too!

Spiritual life. We just finished a "discovery" "class" and joined a new church just minutes from  home. We were there for the Christmas Eve early service (our 2nd year) and it felt SO right. Like we were REALLY home.

 

Dec 28, 2013 01:55 AM
Eric Galuppo
Real Estate Rev - More Leads Means More Revenue

Reading this post is a good start to have a healthy lifestyle this 2014. Thanks lot!

Dec 28, 2013 02:13 AM
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL
Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

Dang Mike I think you nailed it with this post. I will keep this one with me. 

Dec 28, 2013 11:01 AM
Dawn Marie Anderson
John R Wood Island Real Estate Inc 239.410.7677 - Sanibel, FL
Broker Associate, GRI, SRF

Wonderful post Mike.  I bookmarked it.  Thank you!

Dec 28, 2013 11:13 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Mike

I love this post - what a terrific list to start the new year. I can certainly use some improvement snd these need to become part of the business plan

Happy New Year

Jeff

Dec 28, 2013 01:11 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Mike, This is superb and certainly a great daily read as a reminder to what is important in our lives. As Jeff ( above) mentioned this would be great to add to our business plan. But it would be even better if we added these points to our life plan. 

And temper this with the understanding that the Lost, Forlorne, Forgotten and Helpless, they too have a story. 

Dec 28, 2013 02:47 PM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Mike.  Great list.  Life is so much more than work.

Dec 28, 2013 08:03 PM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Mike-You created a great list. Being balanced is a way to avoid burnout and focused. 

Dec 29, 2013 01:42 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hey, Mike!  I included this post in today's Last Week's Favorites.  Oh, and have a Happy New Year! 

Dec 29, 2013 02:52 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Thanks, Pat.

Dec 29, 2013 03:51 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Great list Mike.  I'm sitting here looking at CE courses to take that aren't the normal ones to try and fill in some gaps in knowledge but also courses that are more "fun" in nature to help with the balance in my life.

Dec 29, 2013 04:44 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

A list for the ages and one we should read at least once a week.

Dec 29, 2013 08:36 AM
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

Hi Mike-such good points. #2 is so so important-I have always been on board with that and try to translate it to my team daily. I have seriously made #4 a mission in 2013 and removed 2 huge takers that I thought were "friends" The year went by swimmingly without them in my life. Amazing!

Dec 30, 2013 12:40 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Michael, some of these 10 things are easy - as it is associated with our habits - however, when it comes to emotions, it's really very challenging - like forgetting the past, forgiveness! And one who wins those items are the one who is going to be successful not only in 2014 - but also in life!

Dec 30, 2013 11:11 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Fabulous list and so well thought out. You last line is so important...  You might be the only encouragement some people ever get, and you might be that one lifeline someone needs in an undisclosed time of distress.  

Jan 01, 2014 03:37 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Mike - you are a very wise man. It is not easy, and I wold fail on some of those. But it is worth trying.

Jan 04, 2014 01:36 PM