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reinforcing meaning through gratitude
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I think back on my life, and I remember in my mid-20s, I'd led kind of an average, what I would think would be average life, grade school
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junior high, high school, college, got married, didn't have any kids, but got married at 21
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And at about 22, maybe 23, 24, I had a job. and it kind of hit me
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I was kind of done with all the things that were required, you know, get an education and
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then probably get married. And I hadn't had kids, as I mentioned. But maybe it was time to really look and think, what was the meaning
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I really had a tough time with this. And I remember being about 24. So the first thing I thought was, I know what I'll do
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I'll figure out how to become a millionaire because a millionaire is going to give me meaning
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And so I thought, I'm going to give myself 26 years to get to be a millionaire status
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You know, that'll get me at the age of 50, and that would work pretty well
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So I started out and fixing up houses and buying real estate and building extra units in the
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buildings and so forth and then remodeling them and then refinancing them and so forth
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And one thing led to another, and from 24 to 30, six years later, I was a millionaire
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actually worth a couple million dollars. Had 13 properties 115 rental units And I decided just to kind of go crazy and I learned how to fly I bought an airplane I bought a fancy car I bought a fancy house and I was still married all during this time no kids but still
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kind of searching for that meaning I thought well this will make me happy but I remember so clearly
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driving in this jaguar xj 12 I had I was driving down the street I was about 29 20 28 29 years old
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and I looked at this car and I thought all this Corinthian leather
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and this burled walnut and all these wonderful things that went into this car couldn't make me happy
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It couldn't put its arms around me and tell me it loved me and tell me that I was a good person
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So I didn't find the meaning there. And that was something that was very profound. And as I really started searching, I kept thinking, well, maybe money's not the answer
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And yes, money can help. Somebody once said, it's better be miserable with the money than without
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I get it. But the thing is, it wasn't the answer. And that's what that taught me that at the age of 30
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And as it went on throughout my life, I realized that I was going to need a coping mechanism
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because life is this huge rollercoaster ride of up and down and up and down and twists and turns
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and upside down and all those types of things. And how you navigate that can make such a big difference in how you have success or failure
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in terms of your attitude. And to me, as I say in my talks now, you choose, you and only you choose your attitude
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You can choose an attitude of gratitude and it make you healthier happier and lighter And that what I get across in my keynotes and my talks and my workshops is how having an attitude of gratitude gratitude mindset is such a great choice because what does it do
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What exactly does it do? It helps you focus on your blessings and abundance
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It helps you focus on the windshield in front of you and not the rearview mirror
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What's out in front of you? Forget about the past. It's in the past. Don't worry about it
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I still come across people that talk about things from the past and they pick up things
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from the past and put them in front of them and they drive over them again like so much garbage
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It's no, it's no good. Think about the future. Learn from the past
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Yes, if you're looking in the rearview mirror, if you see flashing blue lights, you may have to
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pull over. I get it. But mostly focus on the future. Do not dwell on the past
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People that dwell in the past are so often not happy with the present
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And how do you get happy with the present? Gratitude. Keep focus on your blessings and abundance
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gratitude turns what you have into enough. It's such an important concept
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It gave me meaning like I never had before. And now in my talks and workshops and the trainings and different things that I do, masterminds, people tell me all the time, you change my life
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I never got that from any amount of real estate or an airplane or an XJ12 Jaguar or anything else in my life
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I never got that feeling of what it's like to change somebody's life. It makes such a big difference
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So think about that and reinforce meaning through gratitude If you can get a gratitude journal I put one in the description below But if you can get a gratitude journal it really helps because as I say in the front of my gratitude journal on the link that as I say I put in the description
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If you think about it, it's like a dream. If you talk about it, it inspires you
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But if you write about it, it empowers you. I am so grateful for my friends who invited me to lunch yesterday
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Many people don't have friends. You get people to get to be my age, seniors, and some of them, one of the biggest epidemics of all is loneliness
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Oh my goodness. People are just not having the communication with the people they used to have
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because a lot of them have passed on where they've moved or any number of things have happened
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So so, so very important to have community around that. But focus on your gratefulness
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Focus on your blessings in abundance. Focus on the things that you have. And don't worry about the lack
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Don't worry about the negative stuff. You know, it's the oldest line in the book, the glass is half full or half empty
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I've heard it over and over again, but it's so true. I see the glasses half full
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Your life, if you see the glass is half full. glass half full will be better, more fulfilling, and more satisfying. And I think ultimately, that's what
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we're looking for with the meaning for all these people that are out there searching for that
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And some of them having luck with it and some not. So I highly endorse gratitude. I highly endorse a
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gratitude journal. And if you really want to reinforce meaning through gratitude
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focus on gratitude, focus on your blessings and abundance. It'll make such a big difference
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I'm that gratitude guy. Remember, be grateful and never quit. Thank you
