As you’re moving at the speed of life, it’s easy to overlook the basics – the simple, good decisions that make life sweeter.
Regardless of how we advance and grow as a society – with new technologies, skills, and ideals – the fundamentals in life haven’t changed. It’s still best to be cordial and kind, to keep an open mind, to make the most of what you have, to work hard for what you believe, to stand strong and learn from your mistakes when things go wrong, etc. If you aren’t doing so already, you’ve waited too long.
It’s time to…
- Be present. – Being completely present is extremely important – being actively in the ‘here and now’ for yourself and for the ones you love. Fortunately, doing so is an easy thing to accomplish. It’s enough to simply take a few deep breaths, pay attention, and let go of thinking and planning for every other time and place. Just come back to where you are, breathe in, breathe out, and smile. You are right here, right now in this moment we call life, which is in itself a miracle worth paying attention to. Read The Power of Now.
- Leave the past behind you. – You act like it’s you against the world, but it’s really just you against yourself. You become a prisoner in your own mind when you cling to the pains of the past. Instead, be free and cling no more. If you’re brave enough to say “goodbye,” life will always reward you with a new “hello.” So keep your faith as you put one foot in front of the other; it won’t make things any easier, but it will make things possible.
- Make conscious choices. – All the choices you’ve made in your lifetime have brought you to this point. Where do you want to go next? You’ve learned many things from the path you’ve walked in the past. What do you wish to learn today? From an infinite pool of possibilities, you have selected specific goals and specific ways to spend your time. What are the possibilities that most interest you now? Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens because of you – it’s what you choose to think, do, and create in each moment. So what do you choose? Right now is an opportunity of a lifetime.
- Work hard for happiness. – You are allowed to cry. Extremely happy people cry too. The reason they are happy is because they understand that unhappy moments are fleeting. Instead of dragging them down, the weight of rejection, the disappointment of failure, and the pain of heartache fuels them. It motivates them to make positive changes going forward. Because they realize that happiness is NOT a fleeting state of mind; it’s is a lifestyle choice that requires the willingness to work through the tears, and do what’s necessary to make tomorrow a better day.
- Start DOING. – Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from what you can do. No more excuses, no more wasting precious time. This moment is as good a time as any to begin doing what matters most. Start exactly where you are right now. Do what you can with what you have right now. Stop over-thinking and start DOING! Read Getting Things Done.
- Take baby steps. – It only takes a couple minutes to make a little progress, and a little progress quickly adds up. It only takes a couple seconds to express a little kindness, and a little kindness can mean all the difference in the world to those around you. It only takes a simple attitude adjustment to build a little positivity, and little positivity is what makes great things possible. Get in the habit of making small positive changes like these, and soon you’ll be experiencing big accomplishments that once seemed entirely out of reach.
- Halt the negative judgments. – Don’t speak if it’s not kind; speak only words of kindness. Don’t see everyone’s flaws; look for the good in people. Don’t listen to everything you’re told about others; not everything is truth. Be careful placing judgment upon someone, for you are unaware of the battles they are fighting. Instead, pay closer attention – figure out why they live the way they do. Every person in this life has something to teach you, and as soon as you accept this you open yourself to truly listening and learning.
- Give yourself more credit. – What if you started giving yourself more credit? What if, for today, you choose to believe that you have enough, you are enough, and that you’ve come far enough to be worthy? What if, for today, you choose to believe that you’re strong enough, wise enough, kind enough, and loved enough to move forward? What if, as the sun sets on today, you choose to believe that you did a pretty good job? And what if tomorrow morning, you choose to believe it all over again? Read Awaken the Giant Within.
- Appreciate the good life you have. – The secret to a good life is to pay more attention to the beginnings than the endings. So many people say they want a new life, but then they take the new one they get every morning for granted. Don’t do this. Don’t wait until your life is almost over to realize how great it has been. The good life begins right now, when you stop wanting a better one.
Photo by: J.T. Noriega
Phil Kayes says
Thanks for your devotion to produce a quality blog. Every time I read it, I find – at least something – that brings powerful inspiration to my life.
Bill says
Each time I finish reading one of your blogs, which I have been doing for only for a few weeks now, I say to myself that I’m going to write and thank you for your kind and encouraging thoughts.
This time, I’m doing it.
I love how you write and share your thoughts in both an inspirational and practical way. Not an easy target to hit. But, you manage to do it every time. I think your message is important and much needed in today’s world.
And I wanted to express my thanks and admiration for a job well done.
Keep up the good work. I’ll be following.
Ani says
Very inspirational! I live by the motto focus on the positive, as you said its not about only expecting good things to happen, its about finding the good in even the worst situations. It can be hard but I can see that my overall happiness is much greater when I can find even a sliver of good in a otherwise bad situation.
Manashree says
Hi,
I just wanted to thank you for this blog. Everytime I read a tweet by you with a link, I click it and read. Today was no exception. Your blogs on life inspire me in more ways than one. Keep posting. Good luck to you!
Thank you!
M
Clara says
#6 & #7 really touched my heart <3 It’s all about finding the positivity which we lack in our lives. Thanks Marc to reminding me to talk good and to see good in people, rather than their flaws. You are positively making changes in my life and I’m grateful for that 🙂
Arabella Rose says
‘You act like it’s you against the world, but it’s really just you against yourself. You become a prisoner in your own mind when you cling to the pains of the past.’ These words made a different in my life today…
sakthivel says
You are absolutely awesome!!! Whenever I read one of your posts, I get something new and useful out of it.
Abdullah says
Wow, insightful post… just what I needed. There is something about this blog… as soon as I read the title of a post from the Marcandangel blog listed on other websites or twitter, I just know it’s one of yours. Because your headlines are very catchy and your content never fails to provide quality information. My favourite personal development blog.
Erika says
You run one of the best blogs I’ve come upon. I truly enjoy reading everything you post and always look forward to the next one. You nail it every single time.
Thank you so much for doing an amazing job at inspiring people with the wisest and kindest words.
Amandah says
Good points. As for being present, it can be a tough one for some people, especially if their lives aren’t on track. We’re either in the past or the future, but never the present. A good exercise to stay present is to name the things around you like a tree, houses, etc. This will snap you back to the present time where you can create the future you want.
Tb at BlueCollarWorkman says
I like the baby steps one, it reminds me of What About Bob? 🙂 Haha. It’s good though, these all are good actually. Especially the excuses one. People, and myself, are BIG on that one. Seems like most peopel should take on a new motto — no excuses. When you take away excuses, then you just get stuff done! Easy!
nina says
#2. Leave it behind you. Leave it!
Another fantastic post!
Jason Burnett says
#8 (give yourself more credit) is really a problem for me. I’ve got a master’s degree in history and because I haven’t (yet?) gone on for my PhD, I forget to value what I *have* accomplished.
Aaron Black says
#3 Make conscious choices.
So many of us, as we get older, relinquish the power of choice. It’s easier swim with the current and avoid making decisions, delegating and deferring to others to maintain what we have instead of pressing forward for more. At the end of our lives it’s really our choices that define us. You’re post is a great reminder that we have resources (energy, intelligence, physical prowess), that we can either mobilize or let rust.
Pinkita says
Great post. Just what I needed today. Thanks for reminding me to give myself more credit.
Wei says
My life has changed bit by bit because of your articles. It wakes my consciousness every time I read your blog, always learning something from each new post. Thank you.
Michelle says
Thank you for having this blog. I recently started to follow this and it has given me inspiration everytime I read a post.
I am relating to #7 at the moment and wondering why my significant other has chosen to hurt me the way he has…your words “Be careful placing judgment upon someone, for you are unaware of the battles they are fighting” makes me think twice about where he is coming from and his actions. This helps me be in a better place, thank you.
Looking forward to your next post.
Bethany Lee says
Loving number five and number six, which I think go hand in hand. Do something–even when it means you have to start small. So many people–myself included–want to have arrived before we’ve even got there. By starting small, we are bound to appreciate our accomplishments. Thanks for always being inspiring.
Kris says
Love it! Thank you.
Janis says
#8 is one I will focus on. Thank you for the nudge!
none says
great as always 🙂
Krysten says
I wanted to thank you for today’s post. It was exactly what I needed. It’s funny, because for a while now I’ve been thinking a lot about these very things but haven’t actually put them into motion in my life. I think this is my cue!
Micah says
I find new ways to make my life, and the lives of others, better every time I read your blog. Numbers 1 and 2 really hit home for me. Keep up the good work!
Marc says
@All: Seriously, the best gift we have ever received is your admiration. Thank you for continuing to make Angel and I smile, week in and week out.
So glad so many of you connected with this post.
Susan says
I really needed these reminders today. Thank you so much! And thank you again for all your blogs. I’m not sure if you realize how much of a difference they have made in my daily life and others. I need these constant reminders not to get caught up in the lies my mind seems to enjoy bombarding me with – it is a daily struggle.
Ash says
I love number 8!
Ryan says
Really good article, will have to read through your others now as well.
Nate Anglin says
Stop looking at the past and focus on the present. We all get stuck up on this one.
Ara Bedrossian says
Last but not least, and probably most: Appreciate what you have. I believe that gratitude is the most powerful human emotion. It is what allows us to do great things without feeling bad if we fail. The realization of my finite time here and the gratitude to recognize this is what I build in myself.
But there is being content, and then there’s accomplishing something. The first is hard enough, the second is priceless. Find our purpose and claim your passion. It’s never too late. Thanks for the reminder.
marlene says
Loved reading these, and will try to live by them as well. I needed this today…
Anju says
Thank you! 🙂
JJ72 says
Insightful and inspiring as ever. Personally, I need to focus on No.7 – halt negative judgement. That’s my focus this week. Thank you 🙂
Pauline says
I love this list, have been guilty of most, and tackling them one at a time!
Gavin says
I’ve been reading a lot of the articles here for a few months now and doing what I can to use the advice. It has been an excellent few months, I have been truly happy and producing very well at my job. My only question is, when are you guys going to write a book??
Ilia says
If we turn off our distractions and desires for more than just a moment, we will be providing ourselves and others a blank canvas to paint in it with the colors of LIVE life.
We let the days go by without paying attention to those true things that enable us to be where we are today. Usually these “things” are people. But what uf themselves are distracted. How far we are willing to go to persuade others shows the level of commitment we have with each other.
Love your posts. They inspire our essence to come out from hiding and share.
James Strock says
Another terrific post. Thanks for these words of wisdom of living effectively, in the moment….