LIVE IT UP

You probably thought this was going to be one of those "throw caution to the wind" kinds of chats that encourages you to go get your freedom at any cost. Reel yourself in. While that may sound like a great idea to some, depending on who you are, that's not where I'm going with this.

No, I'm talking about truly living life UP. I'm talking about living with an UPward way of thinking. I'm talking about keeping your head UP when life tries to bring you down. I'm talking about picking yourself UP when you have fallen on your face. I'm talking about getting UP after you've been knocked down. I'm talking about keeping your spirits UP when your smile is turned upside down. I'm talking about looking UP instead of staring doom and gloom in the face.

How do I do that, you ask? I'm glad you asked. Here are a few LIVE IT UP pointers:

1. The worst things in life do happen. You are NOT the only one that stuff is happening to. Life has a lot of hard parts and tough experiences. It can take a lot of time to manage and maneuver through the messes of life, but you must always know that there is a way out of the maze of difficulty. Looking down on yourself and being mad and bitter is not the best point of view. Work on all of the positivity you can MUSTER UP.

2. We have the ability to get past almost anything. We have to LOOK UP, though. You have to see and believe in the possibilities. As soon as you can get a grip on yourself and regain some strength, see the potential. Believe in yourself and believe that there are good things UP AHEAD.

3. You play the leading role in your life. You are the decision-maker. You are the one who is writing the script of choices. You are the one who is in the driver's seat of your thoughts and actions. You are responsible for the stage you set to star in. What does this mean? It means you have to SHOW UP for yourself. Be braver. Be bolder. Fight your fears. Do all the things that help you reach your potential and the things that help you feel good about yourself.

4. If you make great choices, the fruit will bear itself. If you make poor choices, yes, the results can be rotten fruit. But, that happens to all of us. We don't always get things right. In fact, we get the majority of things wrong, we just don't admit it. This is when we have the opportunity to LEVEL UP, take inventory of ourselves and determine to be intentional about getting the best out of life. Bigger thinking. Better goals. Deliberate actions that we know will improve the quality of our lives.

5. Be proactively positive. Be optimistic, not in the "pie in the sky" kind of optimistic approach to life. Have the kind of optimism that keeps you focused on LIVING UP and above the fray, frustrations and faultiness of life. It's all attitude, and it's in your power to choose your attitude. You can live in a funk, or you can choose a LIVE IT UP attitude.

It takes practice, a lot and often, but that mindset will help you more times that not. Is it a perfect remedy? No, it's not. Life will keep "Life-ing" nonetheless, but here's the thing: You'll be UP for each and every challenge it brings. ~ S.R.F.