Keeping Positive & Some Advice?

Keeping Positive & Some Advice?

Trust me, before we even start, it's impossible to always be positive. Life throws some serious curve balls and sometimes you will feel abandoned, alone or betrayed. It's during those moments that we all have to mourn and move on and realize the sun does rise and shine another day. I wanted to offer some things that I do or have done to help me keep a fresh outlook:


Start eating better - Food...this can alter your mood dramatically. Eating healthy can clear your mind and help creativity. I have more energy, sleep better and notice I want to write more. Its amazing how once I cut all the processed foods and fast food garbage out of my diet, things became clear and less cloudy. Sure, you have to indulge and eat some crap sometimes but the benefits outweigh the "cravings". When eating bad, I wrote less, moved less and wanted to sleep more. Now I want to create and have fun. It works..I promise.

Stop watching the news - Ok, sure we all need the news in our life but trust me when I say this...most of the news is trash. I don't care about these other families or most of the TMZ style news reporting, I care more about my own family and whats good in my own community. Fear and controversy equal ratings...positivity does not. Its the truth. So stay away from the news, or watch what really matters. You'll be happier you did. Go for a walk, go enjoy the sunshine and live your life.


Choose better friends & limit Social Networking - Yep, coming from someone who claims to be a social networking guru, I am in fact telling you to limit social media. For many its an obsession and at times, I fall into the same trap, but I now seem to post and walk away. I post less, interact less and spend more time with my family. People don't really care what you're eating, doing or hanging with. They care if YOU care what THEY are doing. Hey, someone has to tell you the truth. I go on in the morning, maybe around lunch and then at night. Typically, unless someone messages me or posts on my wall, I don't see much anymore.

Go Outside - Go outside, go for a walk and enjoy the air. Regardless where you live, you can get yourself to a nice park. Sit outside and clear your mind, let the natural vitamins help you and refresh you. Sitting inside can lead to boredom, sleep, snacking, being lazy. Even if you're sitting on a bench, next to a nice lake, surrounded by natural surrounding, you will be happier. It's amazing what just some fresh air can do. I've started to walk around my town and taking the longest way, actually getting some sort of work out, by just being active. I've noticed I started taking pictures and learning more about our town...been here for 17 years and learning more now than ever.

Anyways, those are some tips that help me...they might not help you, but I wanted to exercise my brain by writing and doing something. Now, I'll eat a lunch and then head out for the day. Enjoy life, its the only one we get!

Influence

Influence

Influence - the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Influence changes all the time. No matter what you're doing, from working out, eating right, writing, making film or living life. Each day you work hard to be more like someone else or achieve a goal. I see nothing wrong with that, as daily influence is important but, follow your own path. That goal or person you are trying to follow made their own path, so must you. 

Today, I will work hard to be my own person. I will work to write better, think outside the box and be a better me. 

Success vs The Not

Success vs The Unsuccessful

I came across this chart/poster that inspired me to write. I often wonder what to classify myself as; since I write almost daily, we will stick with writer. Lately I have been working on my future...when I say that, I mean what will this year hold? Sure, across the last few months I've written out goals for this year but sometimes, things happen and they change the path you follow.

Now, looking at this chart, I can only speak for myself. I can look at both sides and say to myself "I want to be successful". What does that mean? Success can have countless meanings...if you follow this blog, I've written a lot of positives that I've come across. I've shared my personal life on my podcasts and interviews. I sometimes think it's a challenge to get better, so if I put it out there, I now have to work harder to be better. I've never been one to sit and whine about what I should be getting, I just continue forward, work harder and believe in myself.

I've been fortunate, I've been a published writer, online and in magazine print. I've performed on television live and in front of over 10,000 people (and kept my cool). I've developed a podcast following, from both the Extreme Odd Couple Podcast and now Monster-Mania Radio, plus recently, I've written, starred and produced my own film. Were any of things handed to me? Nope...and that's what makes me the happiest. The difference is, Am I satisfied? Nope.

   When looking at the chart, some, including myself have said I'm a little of both. I can agree with that. Let's see what I feel I work the hardest at : Giving Gratitude - I always am thankful for opportunities. Giving Credit - look at any of my articles or even this site, I also am the first to say, I had help and who helped me. Talk about Ideas - constantly, I even have a list of ideas in my phone. I am always thinking of something new and working things out. Share Info and Data - yep, can't tell you how many times I helped people start their own podcasts. Why would I not? Want Others to Succeed - Yepper - look at all my reviews..I share constantly and have no problem with it. As for film making as an example, the battle isn't about each other, we are all in the battle to get Independents more recognition. Accept Responsibility for My Failures - I sure do! Blaming others will get you no where fast. It's the truth. Accept it for what it is..and move on. Our show Late Night at the Horror Hotel failed due to poor planning, poor choices and it can sit on my shoulders. I'm accepting of that. Forgive Others - this is a tough one, as everyone wants to hold a grudge. I can say this - if you burn the bridge between us, my decision making about things having you involved will be different for the future. I've given people plenty of second chances...call me gullible. Most times, I just move forward and worry about me...but it can be hard at times.

Now, what do I need to work harder on? Fly by the Seat of my Pants - hahaha...who hasn't? I think as I've gotten older, I strive to put plans into motion but I think sometimes, it just happens. Watch TV Everyday - No doubt about it...I am a TV junkie. I watch a lot of movies...but, honestly, in a lot of instances, I am trying to learn. I look for new camera angles, the use of shadow, how people edit, placement of shot or even how one movie pulls me in more than another. 

Someone had mentioned - Keeping a Journal - well, I consider this blog as my journal. I often write about a thought, an inspiration, reviews, personal experiences or whatever. Also, I podcast...this is where I have shared everything with complete strangers. The nearly 30,000 listeners that I can't thank enough, get to hear me talk about Horror, my life, share times with my best friend and even my own failures. I have no problem with passing along info. I've gotten emails from people that have said "Rob, your talks about marriage helped saved my own marriage". Or even people asking for advice. My response is simple "Be the best you can be...believe in yourself." I didn't help save anything..YOU helped save it..if you didn't want it saved, it wouldn't have been. 

I encourage people to look at the chart, don't focus on one or two specifics...focus on the general idea of being a better person.