“These responses to song lyrics are my attempt to pass on some road signs that might be helpful as you try and navigate your way through life.”
I have wonderful memories of singing this song in the van on the way to school drop off. I was in a phase of work where I was growing a business and was really optimistic as to where it was going. Plus this song has got an awesome beat!
The phrase “live it up” is more commonly associated with partying in a moment rather than living life to the full. It is living life to full that the artist is talking about while the upbeat music plays into the more popular use of the phrase.
The chorus sums up the message of the song perfectly. We often feel restricted, all the while placing our own limits on what we can achieve. It’s nice to be reminded that these limitations aren’t real. It is also common to put things off, hoping to get around to them eventually. The truth is “eventually” will come around and will find you either closer to your goals or still putting things off till tomorrow. We can’t be sure of our allotted time on earth, you might die young or live a long life, either way you should be living your life to the full. Live it up!
There will be times when you look back at your life and have to admit that you weren’t at your best. This is a normal and natural path through life. When you come out of these times it’s important to acknowledge this and try not to return there. Sometimes it takes the responses and criticism of others to show us the error in our ways. Criticism can be as good for you as praise. Praise builds confidence and well-meant criticism shows you where you can improve.
It is a good thing that no one is emotionally bulletproof. Emotional responses are part of living a full life. These emotional responses are valid signals and help in decision-making. You should be aware of your initial emotional response without letting the emotion rule your judgement.
There’s a difficult balance between listening to good advice and blocking out nasty, unhelpful comments. It is possible that what felt like an attack was meant as a kindness that you can grow from.
All good advice is easy to say and hard to do. One such piece of advice is that we shouldn’t avoid challenges because of possible failure and embarrassment. When fear of failure is holding you back, these are the moments you need to step toward your fear or you will get further away from your potential.
As you move toward your goals it may feel like the destination is too far away. Appreciation of working toward something you believe in can give you the strength to perservere.
These responses to song lyrics are my attempt to pass on some road signs that might be helpful as you try and navigate your way through life. None of us tread the same road; we are all different, born in different times with different goals and aspirations. It is the similarities everyone has that makes advice and observations from thousands of years ago relevant today. Life can feel a lot more like being lost in a maze rather than cruising down a big highway. You will make mistakes and take wrong turns. If you find yourself going the wrong way, just turn around and go the other way!
There will be moments of clarity in your life when you know you’re on the right path with your eyes looking up, not down. Embrace these moments and remember that even an ordinary life, when compared to the most successful people, is unique and special.
A rut in a road is like an inverse train track that denies us the possibility of changing course. Living without the freedom of choice it is like being in prison. The good news is that we always have choices. This begins with our attitude, which can shine new light on any situation however dark. With a bright, positive attitude you can find your way out of any rut.
We often hear the phrase “glass half full”. People can choose to view a situation as positive or negative. The same glass can be half full – positive – to one person and half empty – negative – to another. I love how the artist took it further and imagined a full cup not being big enough for his new outlook on life. I wrote the words “Get a Bigger Cup” on a whiteboard to remind me to look forward to the next challenge whenever I achieve a goal.
Nothing is guaranteed in life. We can get through a low point and feel fantastic again, but who knows for how long. Taking a lesson from your own success and reminding yourself of good times can help when you’re struggling again.
We really don’t know what the future will look like. The possibility of not achieving your goals shouldn’t stop you from trying to achieve them. At points along the journey toward your goals you will feel good about what you’ve achieved so far. Every time this happens you should be grateful. Life is beautiful and it’s good to set cruise control occasionally to allow time to appreciate it.
It is in the effort to reach the goal of living a full life that we live the fullest. When we set goals we often aim for the top. We look at what others are doing or have done and strive to replicate them. You might achieve more than you expected or you may fall short of your goal. The pursuit of a goal is the key to success, not the achievement of it.
There will be (well-meaning) people who try and tell you what you can’t do. What you can and can’t do is a limitation only you can put on yourself. An “ordinary” life can still be a beautiful one, but only when you are living life to the fullest by your own standards. When you keep your perspective clear and focussed on the things that are important, the world’s troubles can seem a long way below you.
Doubt will always be a big challenge and if you can act despite your doubt you will always feel positive about the future. Who you are tomorrow can always be an improvement in some way over who you were yesterday. Doubt and fear can hold you back from saying yes to the opportunities that life presents.
“Say yes today to things you said no to yesterday.”
