A common problem that most people have, is that they confuse their wants for needs. Most of us have more than we can ever use, but we're trained to keep wanting more. It gets painful when we think these wants are actually needs and that we don't have all that we "need." Perhaps its best … Continue reading Needs and Wants
Author: Fox Michaels
Fox Michaels is an intuitive leader with 15+ years of experience as a trainer, either informally or by title. In his spare time, Fox writes the ongoing blog Like a Fox!, where he shares his fun, joyful approach to life and love, as his own way of contributing to the Human Potential Movement. When not reading from his library full of personal development books, you can find Fox enjoying the cinema perks of being on AMC’s A-List, and also working to make sure that he’s the most stylish man on his own Instagram page. Feel free to check out if he's succeeding with that @foxmichaels.
Masterful
You'll never be perfect, but you can strive for better. You can strive to master something, and then keep improving on it. Being perfect isn't a goal. It's just a boring fantasy. But you can certainly strive to be masterful in your life. And that's a goal worth living for.
Light
Darkness isn't even really a thing. All it is, is just an absence of light. You don't flip a darkness switch to darken up a room. There's no such thing as a darkness switch, only a light switch. The only way to have darkness happen, is to actively block out the light. And you don't … Continue reading Light
Know Yourself
Since you're pretty much stuck with yourself for the entirety of your days, you might as well get to know yourself. You may think you know yourself, because it seems like that would be obvious, but that might not be the case. A lot of people tend to get stuck on being able to describe … Continue reading Know Yourself
Jolly
Around the holidays I remember how much I love the word Jolly. It's a word used to describe Jolly Old Saint Nicholas aka Santa Claus, and it fits perfectly for what it means, which is happy and cheerful. People love the idea of Santa Claus because he's jolly, and I'll bet part of what makes … Continue reading Jolly
Insight
Having insight is having a deep understanding of a person or a thing, and especially of yourself. And the word "insight" itself sums this up perfectly: in - sight. In other words, you're viewing what is inside. What is inside, beneath all facades and at the heart of a person or thing, is what is … Continue reading Insight
Happiness
Happiness is not so tricky. Actually, all it takes is for you to decide you want to be, and then allow it to happen. You don't need anything or anyone to be happy. You don't need certain conditions to be happy. In fact, if you're hanging your happiness on someone, something, or some type of … Continue reading Happiness
Gratitude
Hands down, the best state to be in, is in a state of gratitude. It's guaranteed to lift your spirits every time, and make you realize that you like your life because, well, you become grateful for it. Gratitude helps put things into perspective. It also helps clear the fog that might be clouding up … Continue reading Gratitude
Face It
Whatever it is you want, face it. Look in the direction of what you want. That is the best way to get yourself moving in the right direction. In order to make it happen, you need to face it.
Enjoy
Enjoy your time. Of course it's impossible to enjoy every moment of your life, because there will be times that aren't great. There will be times that are horrible. But, you don't have to let that determine your whole life experience. Life should have joy in it. See if you can find the joy, whenever … Continue reading Enjoy
Dare
Dare to be all that you can be. Even better. Dare to dream up the most heroic version of yourself possible, and then dare to become it. What do you have to lose? You have to pass through this life anyway. You might as well make the most of it. I dare you to.
Care
The cool thing now, seems to be to show that you don't care. To show that you are so unbothered by anything to let it stop you from racing ahead in life. But, the truth is that you are not without feelings, and that race you think you're on is an illusion. Also, you wouldn't … Continue reading Care
Bargains
The best advice I can give in regards to being smart about spending is this: A bargain isn't really a bargain unless it's for something you actually need. And, everything comes with a cost, regardless of it's so-called bargain. Something being on sale, and marked down to only $100, still costs $100. Even if the … Continue reading Bargains
Appreciation
Showing your appreciation for someone will not only make their day, but it has the added benefit of brightening your day as well. When we focus on what we appreciate, and openly express that appreciation, it reminds us of how blessed we are to have that person or whatever we're appreciating in our lives. And … Continue reading Appreciation
Yesterday
Yesterday is gone. It may as well be from 100 years ago. Yesterday is behind you. There's no sense in facing that way. Life is in front of you. Keep looking ahead.
Who Can Help
All of the technology and things that are automated in our daily lives are a real blessing. But, we still need people, we still need each other to get through life. And that's wonderful, because we are all connected. So, when it comes to thinking through issues in your life, it might be wise to … Continue reading Who Can Help
Vilify
It can be so seductive to vilify someone for whom you've judged as a bad person. But to do that, you need to make them almost one-dimensional, only capable of embodying those bad qualities that you're focusing on. They may have indeed done something horrible, but they might have also done some good in their … Continue reading Vilify
Understand
Anger is a cover for fear. And we fear what we don't understand. So, to put it very plain and simple, we need to make more of an effort to understand each other. Otherwise we'll just keep on fearing each other for what we don't understand, and pretending that we're righteously angry.
Take Your Time
It's very easy to forget that your life is yours. Part of it is to blame on others trying to manipulate you. Part of it is your own choice. It's easier to give the responsibility for the state of your life to others, and claim you have no options. But that isn't really true. You … Continue reading Take Your Time
Safety
You can put walls and barriers and weapons around you in order to feel safe. But the truth is, you need to find that sense of safety within yourself. That comes from faith that you can be safe within yourself. It comes from turning away from fear and embracing love. That's when you can find … Continue reading Safety
Recharge
Remember to take care of yourself and recharge your batteries, so to speak. Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, exercise, get a bit of sunlight, and definitely prioritize good sleep. We certainly recharge the batteries of those devices we can't seem to live without. The same should apply to our bodies and minds. Because … Continue reading Recharge
Prayer
Prayer doesn't have to entail a formal ritual. In fact, prayer is so natural that we all do it all the time. It's just that most of us don't realize we are. Prayer is simply a conversation with God, or a higher power, however you may define it. Even talking to yourself, or your inner … Continue reading Prayer
One
They say that one is the loneliest number. And, that can appear true at first glance. But, once you realize the universal truth that we are all connected, then you'll see how far from lonely being "one" really is. As we are all connected, who we are at our core is as one with everyone … Continue reading One
Now Here
You can't ever be nowhere, because all there really is, is now, here. You can worry about the future or fret over the past all you want, but they are just ideas in your mind. Where we live, always, is in the now, right here. That's somewhere, and it's vital. It's not nowhere, it's now, … Continue reading Now Here
Memories
Memories aren't always reliable. They can be lovely. They can be horrible. They might not even be fully factual. And if they're particularly painful ones, simply remember that you don't live there anymore.
Lighten Up
The fact is that we're all stuck with each other on this planet, and life is short. It does nobody any good to take themselves so seriously. Lighten up already. It's a short ride, and it's packed to the gills. You might as well enjoy it while you have the chance.
Kindness Counts
In all seriousness, when it comes to your everlasting soul, being right doesn't matter as much as being kind. Don't ditch being kind just so that you can claim being right. In the end, it's kindness that counts above all. Now, you may insist that you need to prove something to somebody, and kindness just … Continue reading Kindness Counts
Junk Thoughts
Just like our homes can get cluttered with junk, our minds can get cluttered with junk thoughts. Thoughts of worry and resentment, that aren't really helping us, can end up just filling our minds so much that we have trouble thinking clearly. We have to keep up with clearing the clutter. And that applies to … Continue reading Junk Thoughts
Interested
The way to make yourself interesting to others is really simple. You need to be genuinely interested in them! People love to be able to talk about themselves, so if you get interested in what they have to say, and really listen, they will automatically be drawn to you, The bonus to this is, when … Continue reading Interested
Heart
I believe that your heart is much more than a simple organ that pumps blood. I believe your heart is the center of your feelings. Why else do we feel emotional pain, and amorous love in our heart center? Why do we instinctively grab at our chests when we feel joy, fear, concern or pride? … Continue reading Heart
Greatness
A simple description of greatness, is being interested enough in other people to be the best version of yourself possible, so that it not only benefits others, but inspires them to do the same thing. And so greatness gets paid forward. And so on, and on.
Fear
It's been said that fear is the mind killer. It's a dramatic phrase, and yet effectively makes the right point. Fear will stop your mind from working, and prevent any kind of creation that you're normally capable of. The only force powerful enough to stop it, is love. Fear may kill the mind, but love … Continue reading Fear
Ease
Perhaps hitting your head against a brick wall isn't the best choice. Maybe you don't need to always hustle. And, what if the whole no pain no gain thing is not necessarily ideal? Hard work is great for a lot of reasons, but ease can be just as valuable. Life doesn't always need to be … Continue reading Ease
Deep Breaths
Luckily, we don't have to think about breathing all the time, because our body graciously takes care of that automatically. But, we can sure screw up the process with bad habits, and lots of stress. If we're not careful, we can end up only taking short, skimpy breaths, when really the whole system requires log, … Continue reading Deep Breaths
Comfortable
Being comfortable seems like something we all want, but it's not all it's cracked up to be. Being comfortable means that there's no reason to grow. And if you aren't growing, you're dying. Being comfortable can mean stagnation. And yet it's so seductive. The best bet you have is to stay alert. If you find … Continue reading Comfortable
Bright Side
The way I see it, looking for the bright side in things is the most intelligent way to handle any situation. Life can be challenging. Getting wrapped up in negativity only makes life worse. And it depletes your energy. There's always a bright side. Sometimes that side is so small that you could blink and … Continue reading Bright Side
Already
You already know what your purpose is. You already know how to achieve your dreams. You already have what you need to make it a reality. Now, you just have to believe it. It's already done. You just have to allow it to be.
Young at Heart
They say that age is about mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. But seriously, I believe people aren't as worried about age as they are about losing their youth. In other words, their spark and vitality that comes with being young, hopeful and carefree. So, if that's the big worry, then … Continue reading Young at Heart
Well-being
Your well-being is up to you, because you are the best person to know exactly what your well-being requires. Honor that responsibility. Revel in that power. Cherish your well-being. Be an active advocate for it. And respect others in their own journey with well-being.
Voice
We are all blessed with our own unique voice, even if some of us can't physically speak. Our voice is our gift to share who we are, what we offer, and what we need. It's best to remember that gift, and to effectively use it. Because there's nothing worse than having your voice silenced, especially … Continue reading Voice
Upbeat
It's just too risky to rely on outside conditions to determine your mood. There's no way you can control everything out there. But you don't need need to worry about that. You can be happy regardless. It takes a conscious choice to be happy. Choose to be upbeat, and in a good mood, simply because … Continue reading Upbeat
Treat Yourself With Kindness
Treat yourself with kindness. You are the most influential person in your life, and you're always there with yourself. So, how you treat yourself is crucial to your sense of well-being. There are a lot of outside forces that would rather you are hard on yourself, because you're easier to manipulate that way. What's worse, … Continue reading Treat Yourself With Kindness
Say it
Say the thing you keep meaning to say before it's too late. Say it. Say it in a kind way, not in a brutally blunt way. But, don't dance around what you mean either. If you don't say it, people will still feel like you want to say something but are holding back. They'll feel … Continue reading Say it
Rewarding
The great thing about working on yourself, or any grand endeavor, is that the reward isn't just from achieving the goal, but also by who you become from it. Growth, and the wisdom you can gain from it, is often the best reward.
Persistent
The way to persevere is to remain persistent in your quest. And the best way to keep persistent is to go slow and steady. Keep your goals clear in your mind and keep moving in the direction towards them, however small your steps need to be. Keep going. Stay persistent.
Objectivity
The concept of objectivity is tricky. It's about an unbiased truth, free of individual subjectivity. While I believe that there are universal truths, I also believe that everyone has their own unique perspective on them. In other words, while there may be an objective truth, it might be hard to for everyone see it through … Continue reading Objectivity
No time
There really is no time like the present. Nothing else exists. The past and the future only live in the imagination. The present is all we ever have. So, there's no time to waste. Live your life now. Do what you say you want to do now. Because, before long, you'll end up facing the … Continue reading No time
Milestones
Milestones come upon us and they feel so big. But, they're only just moments in our lifetime, like any other. And, that can be great for a couple of reasons. For one, moments aren't so big, we live through moments all the time. And if they are just moments, then we can also choose to … Continue reading Milestones
Life
Life is what is happening right now. So, if there is something you want to do in your life, get to it. There are no guarantees that you'll get more life to live. There is only the fact that what you've lived is already done. What is happening right now is your life. Live it … Continue reading Life
Kindness
Witnessing an act of kindness is like witnessing a miracle. It is a miracle. Kindness is love in action. It brings light to the darkest days. It finds a way to touch even the most guarded hearts. The best part is that every one of us can perform this miracle of kindness. And it's the … Continue reading Kindness
Jokes
Jokes are all fun and games until they're at your expense. It may be a bit naive of me, but I think so-called jokes should follow the golden rule. If you wouldn't want to be the punchline of a particularly pointed joke, then you probably shouldn't put someone else there either.
Ideas
We all have ideas of how we want things to go. We have ideas of how we'd like to be. That's all well and good, truly, but it doesn't help anything if they just stay as ideas up in your head. At some point you need to stop with the ideas, and start with the … Continue reading Ideas
Happiness
We all say we want happiness. But, it seems that we don't all realize what it is. Neale Donald Walsch wrote that: "Happiness is a decision, not an experience." He says that: "You can decide to be happy without what you thought you needed in order to be happy, and you will be." It's a … Continue reading Happiness
Goals
Have goals for yourself. Not because you should be ambitious, but because we all need something to look forward to. It's the secret to life and happiness. When you have something to accomplish, a goal to guide you forward, you're filled with energy to pursue it. It gives you a reason to get out of … Continue reading Goals
Feelings
We can certainly have our feelings hurt, and that can often feel worse than physical pain. But it might be best to remember that feelings come and go through us, much like thoughts. Having our feelings get hurt by another is truly painful, but letting that pain linger involves our part in holding on to … Continue reading Feelings
Endings
The thing about endings, is that they can also be looked at as beginnings. We only move forward, so that's probably the best direction to face anyway. Endings have their place. But they soon get behind you. Keep looking ahead, and get excited for what's new.
Decency
Sometimes it's just a matter of thinking about decency which then inspires one to act decently. Decency is always a welcomed vibe. It's just that people need to be reminded of that in order to bring it back. So, here's the reminder. Let's remember to bring decency to our interactions with each other.
Considerate
Being considerate entails being thoughtful. Yet, all of those busy, cluttered minds out there, also seem to be thoughtless. Being considerate is such a rare thing these days, that it's often equated with a grand gesture of love. It is loving, but it's also completely natural. Or it's supposed to be. Let's make being considerate … Continue reading Considerate
Bravery
Bravery is not a matter of eliminating fear. Fear is not to be eliminated, it's merely an ever-present option. So, bravery isn't eliminating it, but rather choosing to act in love despite fear being present. Love is the other option. Choose love. And choosing love, despite the looming shadow of fear, is a remarkable act … Continue reading Bravery
Attitude
I personally believe that your success depends on a a little bit of talent, brains and contacts and a whole lot of can-do attitude. Your attitude can make or break you. In other words, your perspective on things, and how you react to them. And the fastest way to change a crummy day to a … Continue reading Attitude
Zen
The idea of having perfect peace, or achieving a state of zen seems like such a lofty goal. Actually, achieving zen is really just focusing on awareness of the present moment, and only the present moment. Then you go from there. Moment by moment, stay in the awareness of the present moment and what you … Continue reading Zen
Yakety-Yak
How often do you truly listen to others? Are you really listening to what they're saying? Or does it all sound like so much yakety-yak, because all you're doing is waiting for a pause until you can speak? And really, do you think they're even listening to you when it's your turn, or might you … Continue reading Yakety-Yak
Wisdom
The thing about wisdom, is that you have to go through something in order to gain it. Whether that's trials and tribulations, or simply just time, you have to go through it in order to get wisdom. Put another way: you get wisdom if you have to go through something. So, it's like a perk. … Continue reading Wisdom
Voice
Use your voice to speak your truth and get your point across, even if sometimes the best use of your voice is silence. There can be so much said in silence. And nothing said in a sea of words. There's no set way how to do it, you just have to be sure that you … Continue reading Voice
United
We may seem divided on the surface, but that's just the surface. Looks can be deceiving. The truth is, that no matter how many superficial differences people can concoct, underneath it all we are all united as the same human race. We are all connected and share the same basic human experience. That really should … Continue reading United
Trust
Trust requires faith on one side, and honesty on the other. It can be a long, winding road to build trust, and a split-second fall to lose it. It's a powerful bridge, and yet so fragile that it requires extra special care. Trust is precious gift. Use it in faith. Cherish it. Protect it. Don't … Continue reading Trust
Sleep
One thing is for sure: a good night's sleep can help to pull you away from a bad day, and give you a new start upon awakening. Sleep helps to quiet your overworking conscious mind, and allows your subconscious a chance to do it's thing, for your mind and that body that you may have … Continue reading Sleep
Rest
Rest doesn't need to be thought of as a luxury, or even as a therapy. Rest is vital and should be thought of as a natural necessity. Stop thinking of rest as an afterthought, or as a reward. Start realizing that you need to rest more than you need to tackle your inbox and to-do … Continue reading Rest
Permanent
Nothing lasts forever. That can be a scary thought, or it can be extremely liberating. Whichever perspective you take is your choice. Just know that "permanent" doesn't really exist. It reminds me of when I was a kid, and there was a craze for people to go out and get a "permanent" hairstyle, or what's … Continue reading Permanent
Out
A mind is a wonderful, helpful tool, but it isn't advisable to stay up in there for too long. The longer you stay hidden in your mind, the longer you miss out on living in the world. If you stay too long hidden in your mind, it will scare you into wanting to stay forever. … Continue reading Out
Near Death Experience
There are all kinds of amazing stories from people who have had near death experiences and how now they've learned to appreciate their lives so much more. The thing is, any second is really a near death experience for all of us, because we are only a moment away from death at any given time. … Continue reading Near Death Experience
Mostly
We get into trouble when we pin high expectations on others. Nobody is perfect, yet we expect others to act that way around us. Just as bad, we expect ourselves to be perfect, but we're not. We are human and that's good enough. You can even be an angel most of the time, but that … Continue reading Mostly
Life
Life is a joy and a great responsibility. It's a marker for experience, and it's everything. Life is longer than they say, yet always seems to be cut too short. Life is a gift that should be enjoyed fully and completely lived up.
Knowing
We can know some things about something, but not really know the whole thing. We just don't have access to all of the information, all the time, to fully know the whole story. It might be best to remember this, whenever you find yourself jumping to any conclusions.
Joy
The best way to happiness is to cultivate joy in your everyday life. The best way to cultivate joy is to simply choose it. Choose to be joyful, and choose to bring joy to all the moments in your life. Happiness is sure to follow.
Interesting
The key to being interesting to other people, is to show interest in them first. People bond over a common cause, and the most compelling cause for someone is themselves. Show interest in that, and you'll have them showing real interest in you.
Help Wanted
What if you needed help, and no one seemed to be there? You could feel despair, or you could pivot. What if you figured out a better way to help yourself? What if no-one being there to help turned out to be a great help after all, because you learned how strong and self-reliant you … Continue reading Help Wanted
Greet the Day
If you got the chance to wake up this morning, then you've been given a gift. Sometimes we take that for granted. Often, we take that for granted. We get so wrapped up in our obligations and stresses and troubles, that we assume we'll just keep getting a new day. They aren't unlimited. They are … Continue reading Greet the Day
Fun
Remember when you were younger and all you wanted to do was have fun? Some of us have to remember pretty far back for that, because we had to "grow up" quicker than others. But there was a time even still, when it was instinctual to want to have fun and explore the world around … Continue reading Fun
Everyday
Every day is someone's first. Every day is someone's last. And everyday is everyone's chance at a fresh start. You get that gift every day that you get. So make it count, while you can.
Decisions
Decisions can be intimidating if you believe in lack. If you believe there isn't enough to go around, then any wrong decision you make could cost you dearly. It seems to me that rather than focusing on how to get better at making decisions, you should instead start learning to believe more in abundance. Get … Continue reading Decisions
Certainty
It's good to be confident in what you're doing. It's good to be comfortable in your level of experience and knowledge. However, certainty in any of it is a trap. Milton Glaser says, “Certainty is a closing of the mind.” We just can't know the whole truth, as there are so many perspectives. Confidence is … Continue reading Certainty
Breathe
When you need to focus your mind, just focus on your breath and breathe. Whether you need courage or calm, just breathe. It's fundamental, and it's everything. Breathe. You've got this.
Are We There Yet?
Anyone who has ever been on a family road trip has undoubtedly heard the often repeated question: Are we there yet?! It's impatient at best, and passive aggressive to say the least. Because if you're looking out at nothing but highway and scenery, then you ain't there yet. Asking that question only makes the journey … Continue reading Are We There Yet?
Youth
They say that youth is wasted on the young. I think it's a state of mind. While we can't stay young forever, we can certainly keep a youthful spirit. It simply means to embody the qualities of honesty, staying open, ever excited about what you can learn, a sense of playfulness, and joy. Keep a … Continue reading Youth
Winning
The idea of winning can be a trap. It implies lack. In order for someone to win, everyone else has to lose. It implies that there is not enough for everyone to win. Being obsessed with winning teaches you to be ever aware of this lack. Even when you win, you need to make sure … Continue reading Winning
Vulnerable
We're all afraid to get hurt. And opening yourself up to feel your emotions can leave you wide open to get hurt. But closing yourself off prevents you from living. In order to experience life, and to get past painful experiences, we need to allow ourselves to be vulnerable to lead with an open heart. … Continue reading Vulnerable
Universal
There are so many differences between people, and the divide seems to only get wider. But there are some things that are so universal that we all have them in common, no matter where we're coming from. A smile is the universal language of kindness. Laughter is the universal language of joy. Dance is the … Continue reading Universal
Today
Today is the day you get to live. You'll never experience yesterday live, it will only be as a memory, and an unreliable one at that. You'll never really experience tomorrow, because once you get there, it's today. So, today is the day. Make the most of it. Be in it. And fully live it … Continue reading Today
Say When
Food servers sometimes offer great wisdom. They gain it from dealing directly with people and helping them get what they need. Like offering cracked pepper on a dinner salad. The quick catchphrase they offer when crushing the pepper is, "say when." This lets you know that you get to determine the perfect amount of pepper … Continue reading Say When
Respect
The thing about respect is that it's a whole lot easier to get if you give it first. And the main person you should give respect to is yourself. After all, how can you expect anyone to respect you if you don't even respect yourself?
Prayer
When life has gotten to be too much, I've turned to prayer for guidance. When life is wonderful, I pray in gratitude. Prayer is simply our way of communicating with God. The great thing to remember is that prayer is not just a one-sided conversation. Take care to be open to receive an answer back. … Continue reading Prayer
Order it
If you want your life to change into something more wonderful, you need to be in charge of making it happen. After all, it's your life, and you know best about what would make it great. Be deliberate in what you choose for yourself. Decide on what you want for your life and order it … Continue reading Order it
New Chapter
The great thing about life is it just keeps moving forward. That means every week can be the start of a whole new chapter. Every day could be your chance at a fresh start. In fact, every single moment you can decide to start fresh, to start a brand new chapter, and go forward in … Continue reading New Chapter
Moments
Our lives are simply made up of a collection of moments. Moments are all we really have. And as we live each moment, there is the realization that we'll never get that same moment back. Cherish the moments of your life as you live them.
Loosen Your Grip
As long as you try to control every aspect of your life, you only end up not living it. Life is meant to be experienced live, and unscripted. Loosen your grip and stop trying to control the uncontrollable. You might find that then you can actually enjoy your life.
Kindness
It doesn't cost much to be kind, but it does require that you choose to give it. Everyone appreciates receiving kindness, it just makes your day better. In order for such a wonderful thing as kindness to happen, more people need to be out there giving it. So, do your part. Help make the world … Continue reading Kindness
Just Take the First Step
Just take the first step. Don't get bogged down in worry about how it will all play out. You can't know the exact details anyway. You do need to take action, though. You can't just think about what you want to do. You need to do something about it. So, get started. Just take the … Continue reading Just Take the First Step
Is it True?
You don't have to believe your stressful thoughts. After all, they're only thoughts, and they go out as easily as they come through. Byron Katie has a simple process of staying present and actually questioning your thoughts. She starts with any stressful thought by asking, Is it true? She then goes on to ask, Can … Continue reading Is it True?
Help Someone
It's in fashion these days to notice all the problems of the world and to criticize everyone we can think of to blame for them. All this does is make us feel even worse. So, really, it's in fashion to feel low and work at feeling even lower. The only thing you'll get out of … Continue reading Help Someone
Like a Fox! 