5 Steps To Make Today Count

Do you ever have that feeling of dEJA VU? Ground hog day or perhaps you have a different name for it. The realization that today is going to be the same as every other . What if I told you that it doesn't have to be that way. What if we took conscious action today and with a tiny change we could make our habits change and in doing so we could make every day count rather than counting every day?

Perhaps you are already different, perhaps you are happy just as everything is. You are living your ideal life, that's totally fine too, congratulations, i wish I were more like you. I unfortunately am still on the tread mill but as the days go by it becomes more apparent to me that the potential number of days that I have to make a difference, to live the life I want are dwindling and the truth be known I don't know how many I have so for me my intention is to make every day count, to be grateful for every moment, to be aware of the celebrations and to reflect on the daily lessons learned.

It appears that I have spent way too many precious days doing life, living life through the dreams of those around me, family, partner and children, I am not complaining about that because in doing so I have some beautiful memories, but it feels like today that was not really my dream and I certainly didn't fulfill many of my own goals infact I didn't really have time to think about goals, however that was my choice, that was the lifestyle I wanted but that was then and this is now.

Midlife appears to have arrived with a vengeance and with it she brought a whole bag full of reflection, change, drive and focus, something that perhaps I wasn't prepared for but the acknowledgement is giving me a new focus and purpose, a new desire to thrive in life and not simply accept that this is all there is. I am totally on a new learning curve, perhaps you are too, I truly do believe that I must make today count and what better way than to find new ways to do that, who knows perhaps that might imspire you to do the same.

1. Connection

For the most part the last 30+ years seem to have faded into insignificance. I was so busy doing life, raising children, working, after school clubs, cooking , cleaning, planning trips, life just happened, however I now realise that connection with friends, family and colleagues dissappeared. It was not planned that way it simply just happened.

Now a few years older, empty nest and not recognizing myself let alone those around me, I have come to realize that one of the most important elements of making every day count is re establishing connection with the people we have had or currently have a positive impact on my life. I'm not saying it is easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. We have to make the effort to re connect, to feel that closeness again, to once again build trust and relationships that give us that feeling of belonging.

2. Life Happens For You Not To YOU (Thank you Tony Robbins)

To make today count, it is time to accept that not everything that happens in your day will please you and that's ok, what is not ok is how you react to it. We must constantly remind ourselves that life happens for us not to us, every action has a reaction and before we loose our patience we should ask the question " what lesson can I learn from this?" If you truly want today to count change how you react to what we most likely think of negative situations.

3. Be Brave

It's the G word. I know everywhere you look someone is talking about goals and how to set them and what you should or shouldn't achieve, and how long it should take. I'm not suggesting or even encouraging you to do this if it's not for you. However when I began writing my goals down and taking action steps to achieve them it totally made my day more purposeful.

I hadn't realized just how many of them had been fulfilled and how they make me appreciate more in my life, by planning my goals I suddenly fulfilled dreams that I thought I would never achieve, I hope it works for you too, dream big.

4. Gratitude

There is no action more touching than the act of gratitude. I keep a personal gratitude journal so that I am aware of all that I have to be grateful for. I can not make to day count if I am not grateful for all that I have in life and all that Is yet to come into my life, simply becoming self aware makes all the difference in my life.

Gratitude is so much more that a journal entry, it is also about giving back. Giving back does not have to be a financial gift, giving back for me are acts of kindness. Simple gestures that makes someone else feel good, there is no feeling better than seeing someone else smile simply by doing something for them. If that doesn't make you feel that you made today count, I'm not sure what will.

5. The Gift

Have something in your day to look forward to. You are special. You deserve love and you deserve to feel cherished. I don't know what that is for you, however every day you should plan something that makes you smile even in your darkest days. Something that says "I'm Worth It." Again this does not need to be of great expense unless you choose it to be, it could simply be 20 minutes to read your favorite book or perhaps a coffee at your favorite cafe, no matter what it is gift it to yourself as a way to make today count.

Not every day has to be the same as your past days. Life is for living. If you feel yourself procrastinating or going back to your old habits perhaps this short list of ideas will give you a little inspiration to make today count for you. Let me know in the comments below how you make today count for you. I'd love to add to my list.

xx Lei

TODAY IS THE TOMORROW YOU TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY- LORENZ ONYEKACHI