Life Hack: Are You Living Your Life To The Fullest?

I read this quote the other day that made me think.  “If people don’t laugh at you and your ideas at least once a week, you’re not pushing the envelope.”

I realized that it was a really good litmus test for life.

When was the last time people laughed at my ideas?  I can think of at least 3 instances in the past month where people have straight up laughed at what I said I was going to do (in my personal life mostly, and less at work because…well, I’m the boss- but I can still tell when people think I’m crazy).

I thought about it, and I realized that I stopped paying attention to people’s opinion about my ideas a long time ago.  It started with my parents, and then it slowly moved to other people who thought what I said couldn’t be done.  And now, I realize I’ve just stopped paying attention to opinions in general.  Because that’s really what they are: one person’s opinion.  And who makes their opinion more valid than mine?  Even certain “experts” can’t can’t fully appreciate what a little hard work and a lot of learning on the fly and perseverance can accomplish.  I know that first hand- there’s a few “experts” who, I found out recently, thought NextDrop would be dead by now.  That’s just how these things work. It’s not a bad thing, these naysayers.  They’re not bad people- they just genuinely don’t think what you say will work.  And that’s fine.  You just have to take that into account when you judge whether you can actually carry out your “crazy” ideas.

Nowadays, I’ve started telling people my ideas just to make them laugh- they think I’m kidding (and I laugh along with them), but really, I’m deadly serious.  And then I research this idea to see if I really want to follow through with it.  A lot of times, the answer is no- not because I can’t do it, but because I don’t think it would interest me.

But sometimes, there’s this crazy thing that I just decide I want to do, and I go ahead and do it.

I’m a firm believer in the power of positive thinking, and the ability of anybody to do anything they truly want to do.  The more I read and experience, the more convinced I am that this is true.

When was the last time someone laughed at your ideas?  Maybe think of something that you’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t think you could. What’s stopping you from doing it?

I believe you can do it.  I really and truly believe you can do it.