In hesitant times, be vital

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 | By Mike Lipkin

As the self-professed motivator-in-chief-to-the-world, even I struggle with cynicism, especially when I’m tired. “Fatigue makes cowards of us all”, said American football coach Vince Lombardi. That’s why Vitality is the most precious resource in these cataclysmic times. I define Vitality as: ’Being in touch with one’s internal energy source; the sense that one has great energy and one is dedicated to multiplying it every day; being acutely committed to sharing one’s energy with others; becoming responsible for other’s health, happiness, success and well-being.’

Vitality is far more valuable in adversity than it is in prosperity. When things are hunky-dory, it’s easy to feel vital. External circumstances automatically excite you. It’s in times like right now that you need to burn brightly without burning out.

So here are Lipkin’s ’Ten Vital Principles’ to help you sustain your Mojo in the days ahead:

1.    Breathe deeply and deliberately. Focus on taking deep diaphragmatic breaths that begin at the base of your belly. Use your stomach as a set of bellows to blow oxygen throughout your body. My guide and mentor, Dr Bernard Levinson, taught me this basic technique during my recent time in South Africa. Practise it now: sit straight. Place your left hand on your stomach and your right hand on your chest. Breathe slowly without moving your chest. Feel your stomach expand and contract as you inhale and exhale. Oxygen is our essential fuel. The more we have of it, the less anxiety we feel. Get into the ritual of practicing deep, deliberate breathing all the time.

2.    Eat Right. Take a huge interest in what and how much you eat. It amazes me how few people are seriously committed to what they consume. All the information you need is directly accessible to you. Treat yourself like the athlete you really are. Eating right doesn’t mean denying yourself culinary pleasures, it may even enhance them.

3.    Get Moving. Emotion comes from motion. Explore the right movement for you. Get good advice. Take personal responsibility for your own well-being. Then reach out to others. Be a model of what’s possible. Resist the lure of inertia. Create the natural endorphins that make you happy, keep you young and build your strength.

4.    Be Still. Take time out. Find the quite within. Meditate. Practise your own communion with your higher self. Focus on feeling gratitude, humility, security, connection, love, possibility, growth, generosity, and, yes, Vitality.

5.    Have a Why. Have a reason to get up every day that thrills and excites you. I am thrilled and excited to thrill and excite you. It’s that simple. What’s your Why? If you have a big enough Why, you’ll always find the How.

6.    Make a Plan. Create your own strategy of personal effectiveness. Test it. Live it. Share it. Evolve it. These principles are my strategy. I’m sharing them with you because that’s how I evolve them. What are yours? Find the people who can help you create your plan. You’ll find you can help them even more.

7.    Develop Your Pre-eminence. Whatever you do, consciously become the best you can be. Then build your reputation project by project, person by person, result by result. Communicate your achievements without being boastful or let your actions speak for themselves. The world is a small place. Pre-eminence shines. People talk.

8.    Strengthen Your Inner Circle. Love the people who are closest to you, I mean really love them. I mean actively, consistently, dramatically, passionately and creatively demonstrating your caring. They may be your close relatives, friends or colleagues. Communicate your commitment to them constantly. When the crisis comes, it’s your inner circle who will resolve it for you.

9.    Widen your network by doing good. Your network are the hundreds  of people beyond your inner circle. They are your scouts of opportunity. They should be drawn from diverse sources with diverse backgrounds. Seize every opportunity to make new connections – and I don’t just mean on Facebook or LinkedIn. I mean get out there. Attend the events. Visit the places. Strike up the conversations. Give way more than others expect. Be open to everyone and you’ll find everyone will open up to you.

10.   Relish this moment. It doesn’t take more effort to enjoy yourself. I have discovered that whenever I focus on how bad my life is, it gets even worse. But when I celebrate my reality, it becomes worth celebrating. That’s Lipkin’s Ultimate Law: Life is a reflection of how much you relish it.

Thank you for reading.  Please pay it forward. It’s vital.

(Used by permission of Environics/Lipkin)

Mike Lipkin is a top motivational speaker, employee motivation specialist and keynote speaker.