“The Butterfly Circus” is a powerful two part video about unlocking your true potential. Open your heart and your mind and enjoy the ride.
Roland Byrd
Archives for March 2011
The Butterfly Circus Part 2
How Do You Approach Life?
Have you ever noticed that some people approach life like a sprint? They run hard and fast and then keel over from exhaustion. After lying there awhile they might get back up and sprint some more. But often they’ll flounder for a long time before mustering the courage for the next sprint. They do make progress of sorts, but it’s sporadic.
Then there are people who walk slowly through life. They never really get started. They never accomplish much. But they do keep moving—albeit slowly.
You might think the middle ground is the person who approached life like a marathon runner. And there are good qualities about that philosophy. The steady motion is faster than walking.
But what about when sprinting is the only way to achieve your goal?
Some marathoners are up to it and some aren’t. Many walkers will shrug and think, “Oh well…not today.”
That where intervals come in. An interval is when you sprint for a set distance and then run or walk for a while and then sprint again. When you approach life with an interval mentality you’re willing to adjust your speed to fit the situation.
That’s how I approach life. My life isn’t a slow leisurely stroll and it isn’t a long marathon. It is one amazing Interval session.
I challenge you to do the same!
Face it. Sometimes you have to sprint! Sometimes jogging or walking is wise. But when you’re flexible in your approach, you can keep moving no matter what happens.
You Are The Master of Your Destiny!
Roland Byrd
Copyright © 2011 Roland Byrd — All Rights Reserved
What is The Cost of A Smile?
Does a Smile Cost Anything?
Do you smile easily? Or, do you walk around with a serious expression, maybe even a frown?
What impact do you think your facial expression has on others?
Take that a step further. Ask yourself, “What impact do my facial expressions have on me?”
Check Yourself Right Now. Are You Smiling?
If so, great! How do you feel?
If not, why not? And again, how do you feel?
Try something for me. Stop right now. Get up and go stand in front of a mirror. Put a big, genuine smile on your face. Now smile at yourself in the mirror for 30 to 60 seconds. Make eye contact with yourself. Feel happy and confident. After all, you do like yourself.
Yeah, yeah, people might think you’re weird.
SO WHAT!
I know an author isn’t supposed to tell people to stop reading. But this is important. Besides, I know you’ll come back and finish.
So, go now! Smile at yourself in the mirror for 30 to 60 seconds and then come back and tell me how you feel.
Deal?
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Did I wait long enough?
Good.
How do you feel now?
Great! I knew you’d feel better. Even if you felt good or great to start, it’s impossible to smile at yourself with a genuine, warm smile and not feel better.
Why is that?
It’s because your brain is hardwired to react positively to a smile. A smile is an open, friendly, accepting gesture. It sends a message of welcome and love. That makes smiles infectious! I think you’ll agree with me, of all the diseases in this world I can’t think of one I’d rather have than chronic Smileyitis.
Now Imagine What Your Smile Does for The People You Interact With Every Day…
I know when I smile, which is all the time, I see many happy, friendly people smiling back at me. My smile feeds their smile and their smile feeds my smile. It’s a wonderful loop of positive reinforcement!
In fact, total strangers approach me all the time. They smile, I smile, and we have pleasant conversations. It’s wonderful.
But it wasn’t always that way. I used to walk around with a grim set to my mouth. I frowned a lot and didn’t realize it. In effect I wore a huge, “Leave me alone!” sign. And you know what, even though that wasn’t what I thought I wanted, it worked.
People avoided me like the plague.
That’s not what I wanted. But that’s reality. When you walk around with a dark cloud hanging over you, others see it. And they feel it. When you choose to be miserable, you impact those around you. Even if you try to keep it to yourself, they will sense it and it will affect them.
Is that what you want?
Or…do you want to lift the spirits of the people you meet every day?
With that in mind, ask yourself, “What is the cost of a smile?”
My answer is this: A smile costs nothing. It’s an investment in the beauty of life!
You Are The Master of Your Destiny!
Roland Byrd
Copyright © 2011 Roland Byrd — All Rights Reserved
Are You Listening?
Today I had an appointment to install a new firewall.
I got to the office early, double checked that I had everything I needed for the install and started to drive away. But then I had a feeling, “Look in the firewall’s box.”
Now this was a new firewall. Everything should be in the box. But I shrugged, pulled back into my parking spot, opened my trunk, and looked inside the box…
There was supposed to be a two part power supply. Half was missing.
That would have been a problem because this client is over two hours away.
Thankfully I’ve trained myself to listen to my gut, to those hunches I get. And because I listened, my delay was minimal. I tracked down the other half of the power supply and got on the road.
This might seem like a small thing. And in the grand scheme of life it is. But there are times when listening to your hunches can be the difference between success and disaster, even life and death.
And the key is this. If you learn to listen and trust those feelings, you’ll notice them more and more.
They will guide you. And I’ve personally never been led astray when I was listening.
So open your ears, and your heart. Pay attention to the voice inside. Discover the difference this one thing can make in your life…if you let it.
You Are The Master of Your Destiny!
Roland Byrd
Copyright © 2011 Roland Byrd — All Rights Reserved