Mike Litman » Blog Archive » Are You Really Alive?

Are You Really Alive? Posted on January 14, 2008

Worry. Fear. Doubt. Lack of confidence.

This negative mental attitude (NMA) sets its course to
destroy people’s minutes, moments, and more.

This destroyer seeps into our spirit and robs us of the
‘good life’.

Question.

Does the fact that you’re breathing right now really mean
that you’re ALIVE?

Read this again.

Does the fact that you’re breathing right now really mean
that you’re ALIVE?

I can look at many moments of my life and say “I wasn’t
really living.”

I didn’t realize at the time, though I do now, that many
people don’t really enjoy life.

Many people don’t know ‘how’ to enjoy life.

Many people love the ‘victim feeling’ of the past, or live
in the future. Few live in the now. Few enjoy the moment.

There really is an ‘art’ to living the confident and
enjoyable life.

Too many people have been brought up in a culture of fear
and this mental mud has beaten down their spirit.

Soaking in fear, soaking in past negative programming leads
to feelings of inadequacy and feeling inferior.

The fear dominated mindset rarely experiences the power of
enthusiasm.

Are you interested in staying alive all your life?

Here’s a powerful quote from the author Jonathan Swift.

“May you live all the days of your life.”

Read it again.

“May you live all the days of your life.”

Most people don’t realize how powerful their past plays in
their current thinking and actions.

Everyone’s been hurt. Forgive the people in your past. Live
your life right now.

The greatest threat to confident living is SELF
CENTEREDNESS and SELF ABSORPTION.

The preoccupation with self is the guarantee of
unhappiness.

Lose yourself in others to find yourself.

Then you’ll experience real happiness.

The mass of people live lives of quiet desperation because
they are SELFISH.

The inward focus guarantees despair.

Let go. Take your focus off yourself.

Make somebody else happy.

Live.

It has been said, “All people die, only some live.”

The best way to leave the challenges in your past is to get
the focus off yourself.

Volunteer. Help someone. Teach something. Donate money. Time.

This message has been taught for thousands of years. Use it.

“May you live all the days of your life.”

Love Ya! You’re The Best!

Your Coach,

Michael

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Pat Graeff

Thank you so much Mike, for these stepping stones to building momentum. Helping others is always the way out of feeling sorry for yourself. It changes your feelings right away. Do for others, that is a most valuable key.

Moekahri, Suhartono

I belief sustainability (alive) only happen when we give first and get later. If we work for money and we forget to 'give' quality performance, then money will stop right away for only one cycle of transaction. I absolutly agree with you Mike, the term we should use is: 'give and take' and not 'take and give'.
sincerely
Suhartono Moekahir
Indonesia.

Glen Hopkins

Right on mike! Our egos definitely get in our way and we must realize that it is not about Me, but We.There is no higher purpose in life than service to others and we can't help but serve ourselves when we help someone else.Keep up the good work.

Carol Phillips

I read your letters often after a down day. I do unpaid Christian volunteer work and have to raise my own support and also for the projects I am helping with. Today was tough and this letter and the one for the 15th was right on for me.

amol

Dear MIKE,
You are always speaking my mind.As it is said that when you are somebody you are nobody.you tend to lose your identity
and engross in whatever you are doing.
Regards.
amol arte
mumbai india

LA

Hi,
I am determined to "Live all the days of my life.” And help someone else to do the same. I am here to help thousands of people to improve their lives.

Many blessings to you always

LA

Ian - Cape Town

Thank you for the inspiration.

Jeanne May

Hi Michael...

I said a similar thing to a client this morning many hours before I read your post... you need to take focus off yourself, get out there and be involved with other people's challenges. Remain in the now, it is this very moment that counts. As you say... many people exist but that's not what life is all about.

Jeanne
http://aspirationsplus.typepad.com/uydayg

Cori

I'm finding that from reading and being inspired by your writings I AM beginning to live daily again. Just needed to be turned around, pointed in the right direction and
dusted off a little bit.
Thanks for all that!
Cori

Adelle / Florida

Mike,
That is some deep thought and really true.
I thank you for sharing these nuggets with us.
You are inspiring me to better my life and thus will help others also.
I see that vision is a N.Y. mayor's campaign. Wonder if he reads your inspiration.

Carolyn

Hi mike, thanks for that wonderful but simple quote
"May you live all the days of your life!"
I will use that often, to assist others to just step back and consider whether they are in fact Living!
Blessings to you and I wish you all a magical day!
hugs Carolyn
carolyn@wisdomseekers.org.nz

Ken Bryant

Great blog and very timely. Sometimes you have to be directed back to what you know is true. My vision for 2008 is to LIVE my life with specific intent and purpose and 15 days into the new year, I had already started to forget that.

Thanks,

"Health, Kindness, Opportunity"

Karen

Great message as usual Mike. Most people's focus is on keeping score of what they are receiving and not what they are giving.

Karen

Dolores

Sweetheart,

You are a great example of not a good teacher but a great teacher.

Your vision is a constant example and you always lead from the front.

Bless you, I always enjoy learning from your lessons.

Love
Dolores

Tanya-Danielle Gillis

Hi Mike,
another inspirational blog Mike. Where we place our focus is where all our reality will be created. Do we live in the past where hurt, blame and sometimes past issues hold us back. Or do we live fearing the future where anxiety and stress can reign.Fear is our societies greatest obstacle but when we challenge the meaning behind it and break through, that's when the 'greatest' comes out in all of us.
With love and appreciation Tanya-Danielle
www.caresforyou.org

Kristen

Michael, someone once told me that Ghandi said that of all the religions in the world, Christianity held the most promise as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. The only problem was he had yet to meet anyone who practised what Jesus preached. In regard to your wonderful remarks, I am reminded of Jesus' statement: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I don't care what religion one believes in- the unselfish practice of this challenge would be enough to unify the people of our world. Thank you for reminding us of our Source and purpose in life.

ashok narayan

mike
thank u for teaching me the ways to give,and forget self centredness,
i understand only by giving more you get ,its a cycle,
the more you give it recycles back to give not to hoard
so ,when we start giving , abundance flows ,we can circulate,
when we start waiting to give it will not appear,
thank u for the wisdom mike,
god bless u

DaftAida

Very timely, timeless truth and in these times and times ahead, will hold the key to survival for one and all.

Andrea

Thank you Michael,
I know that I'm alive and climbing toward success
Education is the foundation, I'm still learning I confess
Leave the past behind, cut the chains of pain others may have put on you,
With the sunrise share your life with love,
I wish all these things for you!

sai

True! Fear eats our life. We should do things right. Never ignore norms set by the society. This could prevent us from the trap of fear. Thanks for your thoughts of fear and life.

Lloyd

Mike thanks for the advise.
I have started a Mike Litman bible that I have as a reference.
Your great.

Pearl V. Lake

Hey Mike, Great way to start the new year> Thank God I'm alive.

Pearl

Barbara

Thank you, Mike, for your wise words. What you said about how we are sometimes paralyzed by fear - reminded me about this wonderful quote by Bertrand Russell:

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."

So, a healthy dose of doubt can actually become a creative force behind a powerful change. Of course, only as long, as we are in control over it and remain in a healthy balance between a doubt and certainty.
Thank you for your optimism and encouragement.

Barbara

Michelle Hemel

Thanx Mike--you're always so encouraging. I'd like to give back, to you, what you give to me. Michelle

Ravindra Kumar Perumal

Hey Mike, you are a great coach and mentor. You have always inspired me. I do know now that I don't have to get it right, I just have to get it going. Thanks Coach!

Nicole

I spent ten years of my life not really living or growing until I left my "job". I than became a business owner and started on an incredible journey. I now read books, attend empowerment conferences, and most important I have learned that there is no such thing as I can't. If you take off the 't it becomes I can and I will through learning. There is nothing you can't do...you do not have to get it right...you just have to get it going ~ Mike Litman.

Nicole
www.nicoleshealthyherbs.com

Elizabeth Barhydt

very good
keep uo the good work.

I lost my soul-mate recently He was my life.

My life is better now because he was in it.

We created our own happiness and we were very much alive

Life is good what a Blessing.

Love you EB

Rufus III

Once again THANKS!!! So many of us focus on ourselves. I use to be that way. I've been so caught up into my own circumstances to the point that I forget about the one that less fortunate than I.
The night that I was HEALED from DIABETES was the same night that I had to forget about MY illness and PRAY for those who was my neighbor on the same floor....other words " I had to SOW HEALING in order to REAP the harvest of HEALING!"
You are so on POINT!...PLEASE CONTINUE ON!!!

Prophet Jordan quoted "If you work within your passion, you'll NEVER work another day in your life"

Love Ya MIKE!

Emrick

This post is so important. It is really the secret for happiness. We see proofs of this all around us. As soon as we focus on our ego, we lose tracks of where we are, who we are, and fall into this quiet desperation. I practice RAK Random Act of Kindness, and it gives me great joy.
Peace, Happiness, Success to all!
Emrick

Don

Thanks, Mike. You are refreshing. I just got off the phone with someone who wants to mentor me. Really had nothing positive to say - true example of the 'gimme generation' Couldn't understand why my simple request of 1/9/08 is still unanswered - after all it's been a weekend and no one works on a weekend....

You haave a unique ansd refreshing attitude toward life.
God Bless for your inspiring thoughts and words

biru

very inspiring words.you are wonderful person

Gaida

Hi Mike,
Thanks for giving us a wake up call to start the new year focusing on others rather than just ourselves.

Lack of confidence can defiitely destroy our goals & dreams.... especially if you allow others to 'rain on your parade'.

As a volunteer for many years I definitely guarantee that the joy you can bring to not only your life but to others is so worthwhile.

So much pleasure can be found everyday...the feel of the sun on your skin or the sand between your toes walking along the beach. If we only cherished each & every moment & others... we would definitely know we were alive.

Owen

Thank You Mike!!

I loved this One

Regards

Owen
London, England

Timoteo Arao

Mike, I do not intend to be selfish when I say that you have been chosen, trained and prepared to revive my soul for a real and dynamic life in God´s plan.

Jim

isn't it interesting how a few well chosen words can impact someone, you chose your words well, you impacted me. I don't consider myself selfish but I can be self absorbed, when you do something for others in a selfless way it takes you out of your self and from this objectivity you can get good insights. The greatest insight being that Love is what it is all about, corney but true it seems to me. Thanks for the well chosen words.

Jim McGuire

Pam Davis

Thank you Michael for your words. This New Year my only resolution was to be more positive this year. One way that I am doing this is to write 52 affirmations on business size cards, each week take one out of the 52 cards, keep it on or near my person all week long, and read it, thinking about what it is saying, and hopefully absorbing the message into my mindset. I'm adding "May you live all the days of your life to my stack of 52 for 2008! Thanks again, I love your site.
-Pam Davis