ARE YOU A MOVER AND SHAKER?

ARE YOU A MOVER AND SHAKER?

Movers and shakers are considered to be very influential.  You may think, that you're influencing others, but, in reality, maybe others have you in their pocket. You may not be as strong as you would like. Others may have been able to dangle money and power in front of you. Or you are compromised by others. Then you are not the mover, but the one to be moved. Oh dear!

You're probably craving respect, even more than money and power. Is 'losing face' your biggest nightmare? Do you demand respect 'or else'? Others may feel, that they would otherwise pay a price. Maybe you demand loyalty above everything else. Maybe you're longing for limitless admiration, like a narcissist. Maybe you've been driven to it. But then it gets complicated. If others follow you blindly, they'll turn against you at the next available opportunity. Oh dear!

Being a mover and shaker is certainly not for everyone. It may not be worth it. Close your eyes and reflect on the possible pros and cons. What are the payoffs and sacrifices? Be aware of what you really want to accomplish in life. Your life could be so much easier, if you're not in the limelight.

RICK SCHMULL

DON'T DROP THAT BALL

DON'T DROP THAT BALL

Once you've decided to play ball, don't drop that ball. You need to be able to catch every ball thrown at you. Play catch as much as you can, even while running. That should become your second nature. Try to develop great hand-eye coordination. And get some sticky gloves!

Becoming an awesome player, doesn't happen overnight. It takes constant practice. In real life, you've got a mission to accomplish. You may be among the chosen few and 'unfinished business' is not an option. Don't be anxious about it. That may cause more harm than good. Just keep moving and you'll bound to be successful. Keep chasing your dream. Anybody can do it. A superior strategy and persistence will win every time. As long as you keep everything simple, you don't have to be educated. As long you're driven, even the strongest dynasties will be defeated. This has happened in history many times.

Weaker actors can conquer much stronger actors. Easy! Just watch a cat against much bigger animals. Cats are independent, They prefer going their own way. But even a cat cannot afford to drop the ball, because getting away fast enough may still become necessary.

RICK SCHMULL

THE MAGIC OF THE UNSEEN

THE MAGIC OF THE UNSEEN

Whatever you create, allows you to enter the unseen world. The unseen world is beyond your understanding. It is limitless and offers fantastic possibilities. You are part of something much larger. In creating something, you operate on faith. No proof is needed. It's as if an invisible hand is guiding you in a certain direction. There is no need to understand it.

Focus on moments, that take your breath away. Sometimes a beautiful rainbow around the sun can be observed. Nature is amazing! A glimpse of the unseen is all you need to be longing for more. Forget science. Science always plays a difficult game of catch-up to what nature has in store for you. Being grateful for the experience of reality, not the theoretical, is all you require. You aim to become practical in real life anyway, not a life based on far-out concepts.

Without you, there wouldn't be something, that wasn't there before. You are surrounded by everything you can and cannot imagine, but only you can start the ball rolling. You'll never cease to be amazed about what you can do. Just keep thinking 'make my day'! You'll rarely know, what makes a day 'great'. No one can know. But if your day doesn't turn out to be 'perfect', that may be exactly, what was needed at that particular time.

RICK SCHMULL

WHY, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING?

WHY, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING?

Why is nearly everyone around you so 'down'? Why is there a boom in antidepressants? The global economy isn't great, but holding up. Jobs are plentiful, while workers are scarce. There are wars, as usual, but they haven't widened yet. Food and energy have become more expensive, but rationing hasn't been introduced yet. Fear mongering about climate change, pandemics and World War III is nothing new. So what does it take for you to become more cheerful, with signs of Utopia all around you?

Is there a general feeling, that society is no longer thriving or able to thrive at all? Is society about to implode? Is liberal democracy doomed? Will freedom of movement and of speech become severely restricted? Has '1984' of George Orwell finally arrived? 

Has the fear of overpopulation and accelerating migration become a real issue? If so, aggression around you will get much worse. You'll need to live in a gated community! You'll need to be able to defend yourself. The call for a dictator will become stronger. It's happened in history countless times. Animals tend to defend their territory against intruders. Even birds, by song. Therefore, stay alert and hope for the best. You'll be protected. If not, too bad. Your time has come or not.

RICK SCHMULL

DO IT NOW

DO IT NOW

Don't put off doing things. Do it now. Make the most of 'now'. 'Now' is the moment you've got control over. Seize this precious moment! Who knows, what happens next? Things can change all of a sudden. It could all be gone tomorrow. There will only be so many opportunities opening up in your life. Just live your days, one day at a time, and be very grateful for being given opportunities at all. Life is a gift, after all.

Make the most of your precious life. There is so much to live for. Even if things aren't exactly going according to plan, ignore the few bumps along the way. Those are trivial in the grand scheme of things. You're alive and well! That's enough reason for you to be excited, as soon as you get up in the morning. You'll look forward to another day, another blank piece of paper. What will today bring? Will it be the best day you've ever had? Who knows?

Reward yourself by saying 'you did it' and 'you made it'. A pat on the back by yourself for a job well done. Avoid negative thoughts. Don't make yourself miserable. Ask yourself 'what's it to you', whenever you're confronted with the nightmares of others. You have to go your own way, without appearing to be selfish. Everybody is different. You have to take advantage of your moments.

RICK SCHMULL

AND SO THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

AND SO THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

At some point in life, you'll be faced with another challenge. That will make you begin your own adventure. Once your adventure begins, you have to keep focused on the reward at the end of your journey. Think about it all the time. That allows you to come face-to-face with difficult tests along the way and to get through. There always is light at the end of any tunnel. That should help you to persevere and never give up. Surviving any ordeal will make you a formidable opponent of anyone or anything, that may stand in your way later. 

Your adventure may have solved the issues of your initial fears and insecurities. You are now ready to take on the world. You're much stronger now. How is your relationship with yourself? If you've been able to patch things up with yourself, you'll be able to accomplish, what you wish or need to do now. You'll be able to control your traumatic experiences of the past. 

Don't feel bad about feeling bad. This shows you want to do better. Keep going! The darkness you may be feeling is never permanent. 'What's the point?' is never the right question. You need to muster all the strength and energy, that allows you to go on .. and on. Find your purpose in life. You're an essential part of the world's creation. You've been given a special role. Do you already feel the excitement of your adventure?

RICK SCHMULL

LET'S PRETEND

LET'S PRETEND

' Fake it till you make it'? The positive side to pretending is that you may be about to really enjoy yourself. Happiness is much better for your health than sadness. It is worth imagining a whole new life! You may need to experience a spiritual rebirth. It could boost the confidence in yourself and increase control of your life. Your facial expression will change if you are able to focus on something else than the apparent dreary reality. 

Your life is not unchangeable. Go back to the time, when you were a baby. You then began to walk and talk. You also began to pretend, as you played with stuffed animals and colourful dolls. You should realize, that thoughts, not reality, guide most of your actions and emotions. In order to get on in the world, you have to be creative and flexible. That may mean not to go with the flow. Then you'll have to deal with all the consequences of being considered to be an eccentric. It is what it is.

Practice the art of simulation. That's when your creativity comes into play. Turn your dreams into reality. 'If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough'. Think of the times, that you lost loved ones. From time to time, you'll have to take a few moments to reflect on them still being there. Let's pretend. Otherwise, you may have difficulty in dealing with their loss.

RICK SCHMULL