Awaken Your Day - July 31, 2018 - I Believe

AYD - Practice what we speech.

"Yes, I believe you can."
- Pierre
( pssst.... the trick is to let that sink in for awhile, get hyped up, let your mind settle on something that you were not sure of and voila, push away from the desk with determination and self belief and then go out an conquer the day. Just saying. In case you needed some help. )

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - because you chose to be.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

Awaken Your Day - You Decide

“To move forward and progress, we need motivation. It's the thing that gets us started and the thing that keeps us going. What's yours?” ~ Stefan Wissenbach

Identifying our motivation is like putting your car into "drive". And then we begin to move .... forward.

Good Monday. Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - Knowing why you are reaching for a better you.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

July 30, 2018

AYD - July 29, 2018 from 2013

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."
- Steve Jobs

Sometimes you just need to come across some simple truths ... some words that take what you may already know or feel, and poke you into putting some thought and energy toward the insight.

Sometimes we need to hear that it is okay to feel like a round peg in a square hole... because it is accepting that feeling that allows us to wiggle around until we find out ... this is actually a comfortable place to be.

Listen, consider and absorb. Often times people share great insight, not for us to over analyze ... but so that we can leap forward in proven footsteps and become more, just like they did.

Good morning, Great day.
Greater you, is a foot print for many others to follow.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, and Author to my continuing Exploration mission.

Join me at www.awakenyourday.com

Awaken Your Day - July 28, 2018 - Luck, no. Just great energy.

“Some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants won’t help.”
- Calvin and Hobbes

Original Post 2017

Yes, yes they will ! If you remember first how they got the power to BE your LUCKY rocket ship underpants. Remember the times they saved the day…remember how you discovered they were lucky, and the faith and belief you applied to them every time after when you called upon that LUCK to get you through a tough spot.

Any adversity you may face today – you choose right now before the day has begun that you will be ready for it. Adversity, big or small – not so fun challenges, big or small – to your FLOW ( oh how I love that word and will be exploring it so much more in the days to come) big or small.

Our positive energy stalls or lets “distractions” take the lead role because we often do not maintain the level of feel good that gets us through. We let our great energy pulse slow down. Not intentionally, but because we do not LEAD with it. Hence, AYD. Lead with our best … Rise to that level of awareness and desire and then.. only then… turn the knob and leave the house.

Like anything we do. Here is an extreme example -
A gambler hits a losing streak and says, “Well, my luck just ran out.” Nope. Nope. Hell Nope. He lost focus. Lost the energy when one or two hands didn’t go his way and then desperation started to creep in, he wanted to turn it around, started to rush some decisions, made some careless bets, began to bobble, lost some more, quicksand rising, focus become more desperate, hail mary and then… and only then… his lucky rocketship underpants didn’t help.

One negative thought breeds like weeds in the garden. Like ants at a pic nic. And then… where does our thoughts go? Where do we apply our energy and emotion. What do we ALLOW to happen?

We must train ourselves, through consistency, and our chosen environments ( physical, emotional, mental etc) and like minded people… to maintain the best in our line of vision. To challenge any adversity because Yes damnit, my lucky rocketship underwear will help … like all the other times before.

Good morning, Greater Day.
Greater You – powerful in wearing every lucky thing you have.
AYD – Pierre Couturier – Husband, Daddy Skins, and Author to my Day

Awaken Your Day - July 27, 2018 - Simple Start to a Powerful Engine

AYD - replay day. Setting new plans in motion.
Original Post 2017

“The power you discover from believing in yourself and your dream, is strong enough to bring light to every corner of your life.”
- Pierre Couturier

Just going to leave it at that. Explore your thoughts - see what you can light up.

Have a tremendous day.
Good Morning, Greater Day.
Greater You - acting as your own flashlight.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Awaken Your Day - July 26, 2018 - Count Successes

AYD - I like to practice what I speech. So please accept this AYD revisit this morning as a practice that should be repeatedly used. Like a new tool in the tool box. The more we use it- the more tough situations are handled with ease because our personal skill has grown. Good Morning.
Original Post July 26, 2016

"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?'
Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.'"
- Charles M. Schultz

Sound familiar? When we find ourselves in a rough time, we do not realize it but out of nowhere, this magic shovel has appears, and in our regretful or worrisom thoughts we do not realize that on our worry hill, we are digging a hole. I dare say we could be called professional diggers. And the hole gets deeper. The point of view gets darker. The tool we have is wrong, the direction we are going is incorrect. We need to turn the blueprint around.

Often what starts as just a rut we are walking along in the path, becomes deeper as we trudge along with our head down and our focus on the trench evolving in our heart and mind. At these times we need to reset, refresh and refocus. Never lose touch with a little list of successes you have climbed to in this life. This list will be the rope to help you climb up.

Find three or five or ten times and events where you Have Gone Right in your life. These times are the fuel we need to keep exploring and to keep on top of the edge that tough times pull us so close to. Three, Five, and Ten. Why not Three times you Got it Right, Five feelings you have when you are successful and Ten... Ten minutes whenever you need it to reflect on the Power Within you just found in your 3 and 5.
Just a thought, for a good morning.
Good morning, Greater Day. Greater You - throwing away the shovel.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Awaken Your Day - The Best of the Best

"Every man is entitled to be valued by his best moments."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Imagine if you will...
You are the subject of a roast. A positive roast. People who know you have all come and are taking turns, recalling moments with you and about you that they value.
What are they saying?

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

July 25, 2018

Awaken Your Day - Reaching Out

"Dance while you can...

I will call my friends...
just to talk...
just to let them know I care
and that I'm thankful
for the joy they've brought me."
- Lance Wubbels, from Dance while you can - Gentle Reminders

Alot of people cross the paths of our lives.
Alot of cute phrases and quotes about everyone of them being there for some reason.
Alot of time goes by so very quickly.
Alot of 'reasons' become lost ... not intentionally ... but more so like that magical smile that fills our heart, from a romantic distance ... on a crowded floor in Grand Central Station (life) - there it was, there I felt it and then it somehow was whisked away in the people clutter.

For some, I am sorry. I let it happen. As did some others with me. We can all say that. We should all admit it.

We can also do something about it.
Dance while you can.
Reach out in some way to some whose smile you lost in the crowd - do it for the smile you still carry, for the joy they have brought to You.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - dancing into moments that you can.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

July 24, 2018

AYD - Moments Alive in a day -Personal Growth tracking.

Books I have read in the last 7 days.

One Minute Manager - Ken Blanchard
Leadership and the One Minute Manager- Ken Blanchard
The One Minute Father - Spencer Johnson M.D.
Peaks and Valleys - Spencer Johnson
Dealing With Difficult People - Brinkman and Kirschner
Turning Goals into Results - Jim Collins

Books currently open and reading -

Tools of Titans - Tim Ferriss
The Power of Focus - Jack Canfield
15 Secrets (Time Management) - Kevin Kruse
Man 2.0 Engineering the Alpha - John Romaniello and Adam Bornstein

And for shutting off the mind from learning and my Connect-The-Dots and AYD building, some good political intrigue with Vince Flynn and the great Mitch Rapp character.

Awaken Your Day – Because you can

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time.”

- Thomas Edison

Really, this quote just speaks for itself.
No need for me to over explain it.
Monday is a good day, to Awaken.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You ... trying again.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

July 23, 2018

Awaken Your Day - July 21, 2018

AYD - sadly the plans we had had to be changed because Mother Nature is expressing herself. So instead of thinking of It as a loss - you turn it around. Sandra is getting some work done she wanted to and Jaxon helped me change the seals in the garage bay door. A job I was not looking forward to but with his great help and interest in doing the hard parts - we made it look easy.

Achievements list is growing on an unplanned Saturday. Time for a little Xbox R&R.

Awaken Your Day - July 21, 2018 - Simplicity Is Required

"Action is the foundational Key to all Success."
- Pablo Picasso

No complaint, no desire, no dream, no task, no daddy do list, no job, no worry, no mountain, no goal, no "I wish I may I wish I might", no intention ... none of it gets anywhere or surpassed or achieved or in motion or progress or any better ... without you getting up and doing something about it.

Time to go to work - or Play - or Success, or D. All of the Above.
Good morning, greater Day. Greater you - because you are doing it.

AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy, and Author to my Day

Original Post 2016

Awaken Your Day - July 20, 2018 - Gratitude

What are you grateful for today?

Spend some time with that thought. Be in the moment through your day with that thought.

Good morning, greater day. Greater you, more often in the right moment.
AYD- Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Grateful Day

Original Post July 20, 2016

Awaken Your Day - July 19, 2018 - Abra Cadabra

AYD - just a past post that magically appears where it fits in my week. Have a most wonderful day
Original Post July 19, 2016

"In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes."
- Andy Warhol

So in an effort to keep it light and simple this fine Tuesday, what would you be famous for in your fifteen minutes?

Try not to limit your imagination, unless of course you have a passion that is already jumping up and down with excitement and it is very clear.

Not every motivating moment has to be deep. Sometimes, our inspiration comes from a little game we used to play as kids - Pretend.

Good morning, greater day. Greater you - in 15 minute segments, all day long.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

Awaken Your Day - Find something Right.

"How come I don't have a special place to sit when I do something NICE?" - Dennis the Menace
- Reference from "The One Minute Father" - Spencer Johnson

All too often we focus on what is "wrong" in our surroundings... and more so with what people around us are / are not doing. It's tiring. Exhausting actually.

So today, your mission, is to catch someone doing something right. This is part of the triple crown of the One Minute Manager system and while oh so simple, it is Oh So rewarding... for the person you compliment and you.

Give someone a moment of praise for doing something right. Your child, or someone at work... yes, even if they are simply doing that thing they are supposed to do right in the first place because uh, yeah... it's their job. People respond to positive feedback. They respond well.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - seeing the greater good and making note.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

July 18, 2018

Awaken Your Day – Walk it off.

Walk it off.
Isn’t that what we say?
Take a hit in sports.
Get the wind knocked out of us.
Our child skins a knee.
Walk it off.
Someone makes us angry.
Get overwhelmed and frustrated.
Under pressure.
Heartbroken.
Walk it off.
Kind of sounds rude if you are looking for more sympathy and understanding.
Sounds like weak and ineffective advice when you are mad.
“But, but , but … “
Unless … you understand the destination .. and that is key.
Peace and clarity – anywhere away from that first undesirable feeling.

Walk it off. Get out of the immediate painful focus bubble. It’s a trap.
Stay exactly where you are, and you are smothered by that impact emotion and occurrence.
Walk it off. Give yourself a step back. Begin the mind reboot by adding additional influence to the energy you feel.

Yes, it still hurts, but you are changing the follow up so you understand the impact moment is the worst of it. Your energy is altering focus to the correction and regaining of the next step.
Walk it off. Sounds obvious. It can be.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You – with a reboot walk.
AYD – Pierre Couturier – Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

July 17, 2018

Awaken Your Day - Balance Your Focus

A friend had introduced this to me recently and it got me thinking.

"Sorrows are our best educator. A man can see further through a tear than a telescope." - Bruce Lee

Ponder it, consider it and I think you can agree. Part of the reason this is true, is because in time of sorrow or hardship, those situations have our complete focus. Simply because it is not how we wish to feel and it has our full attention. More attention = more lessons that become visible.

No different than asking a person what they want - it is far easier for us to identify what we don't want as we try to better describe and define what we do want. The uncomfortable or unwanted we can see from a long way off.

So, knowing this, we can try to retrain our emotional learning, and maybe balance it some in our favor.

Be purposeful in the next event you attend, or activity that you partake in. Get wrapped up in the Happy that surrounds you and see what can be learned from it. Investigate the joy much like we do in a moment of sorrow.

Today I will attend a wedding. I will witness a moment designed to be joyful. And I will ask myself what can I learn about happiness, as I focus on how far I can see through a tear - of joy.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You, balancing the focus of learning opportunities.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

July 14, 2018

Awaken Your Day - July 12, 2018 - predictions.

Awaken Your Day - You Have So Much to Work With

Inspiration does not have an expiry date. Often it has a very brief shelf life because we pile a lot of distractions in front of it - but it doesn’t expire. And it does not need a new and improved coat of paint each and every morning.

We practice with what we know and the tools we have found or are taught, until slowly it becomes a part of who we are. Practice includes calling on what we have shared, and reviewing its value from the first time it was “ah ha” to how it influences our today.

You have so much inspiration to call upon. Don’t hesitate to review your knowledge treasure at times when you need to.
Like this memory attached I very much needed this week.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - surrounded by the accumulated parts you collected along the way.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

Awaken Your Day - July 12, 2016 - predictions.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."
- Abraham Lincoln

Just sayin.

Good afternoon, greater day.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

Awaken Your Day - July 11, 2018 - Add A Motivator

AYD - somedays, we need to follow our own advice.

Original Post July 11, 2016

"Life's too short to have tiny dreams."
- Robin Sharma

Add a motivator.
Add an adjective.
Like you do with a noun in a sentence to add effect and description, so should you do with a goal, a dream, a moment, a meeting, a day.

The day is too short to "see how it turns out".
So add a motivator now.
"I'm going to have a GREAT day - and this is how..."

Good morning, greater day. Great morning - remarkable day. Greater you ... With a challenge to motivate.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Awaken Your Day - warm up.

Back to class - Jiu Jitsu. Was worried and anxious about missing a week and a half.
Feeling tired but oh so grateful for the good company, the familiar and new faces, and that worn out feeling that you earned versus the mental guilt worn out from not going.

Never given - always earned.

AYD - learning, no matter how old you are. No matter what your passions.

That’s a good way to start.

Good Morning, Greater Day.

July 10, 2018

Awaken Your Day - Follow Through

"There's no point in going to a motivational seminar if you're not going to take any next steps."

- Tim Ferriss

I love tripping over the most obvious of advice, said in the simplest way. I'm not a fan of that truth applying to me ... but I am man enough to admit that it does.

A seminar, a class or even the moments we share here at AYD. If you do not plan to apply yourself to the tools you reach for to improve your morning or your life - if you drop the passion on the desk on the way out the door in the morning and you roll over and play dead as soon as the outside smothers you with distractions ... then do we really want the improvement we seek?

Build up your passion. Energize and hype your reasons. Believe the hype. And wear it like your favorite coat. And then, take all that energy and take one more next step. Repeat ... and grow.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You ... reaching for the next part of the Greater You.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to My Day

July 9, 2018

Awaken Your Day - July 8, 2018 - It Starts With One

AYD - what should be part of our daily morning routine.
Original Post - July 8, 2016

"I decided to change the world today. All it takes is one person and one thought."
- Sheldon Fingler

Just think about it.
It starts with one. And those you influence, or respect you may carry your example. And the same for them. And the one thought gets bigger as well as more 'one thoughts' start.

Avoid abandoning the goal because you feel you must carry the burden of the entire idea.
One person and one thought. The belief will grow.

Good morning, greater day. Greater you ... Sharing one thought to change forward.
AYD- Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Awaken Your Day - Go First

“I always say that I’ll go first .... That means if I’m checking out at the store, I’ll say hello first. If I’m coming across somebody and make eye contact, I’ll smile first. I wish people would experiment with that in their life a little bit: Be first, because - not all times, but most times - it comes in your favor.”
- Gabby Reece - quote from Tim Ferriss book

And today’s thought is that simple. Go first and see how you feel.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - being first to share, some of the greater You.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Awaken Your Day - July 6, 2018- Kiss

Just a simple and easy one today.
Gratitude.
Maybe you are at work, maybe you are home.
No matter where you are - spend a few moments on simple recognition of what you are grateful for in your life today. And as I always request, do not run through the list and then run along to the days beckoning.

Spend a dedicated moment with each. Let the feeling sink in. You will feel the difference.

Good morning, Greater Day. Greater You - just being Grateful.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

Original Post July 6, 2017

Awaken Your Day - July 5, 2018 - Repeating Myself Tuesday

"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.' "
- Muhammad Ali

We often talk about what we once were, what we used to do, what we once achieved. Somehow it got away from us. Life took a turn, priorities change, we get busy.

Nothing says you can't Repeat. All we have to do is start. We already know what it takes.

Retrace your steps. Repeat success. Retrain.

Good morning. Greater day. Greater you ... Just like you were before.

AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Original Post July 5, 2016

AYD - double dose of positivity in motion.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ”
- The Walt Disney Company

I have a list of things to do today, both work and personal, and I want to have an efficient, and greatly productive day .... so if you would please excuse me, I have to get moving.
(psst... sometimes it is really that obvious what we need to do.)

Good morning, greater day.
A greater you, is a more influencing environment for others.

Pierre Couturier
More Silent and Active Husband, Daddy, and Author of my Day's achievement list.

Find me at www.awakenyourday.com

Original Post July 4, 2013

AYD - Celebrate your life - July 4, 2018

Awaken Your Day - July 4, 2017 - Celebrate

While friends and family celebrate a U.S. holiday - let's take it one step further. Why don't we all simply be inspired by what WE have achieved up to today.

Think of a day in your life that changed things. Sent you down the path you are on now. Changed your Course. Changed your fate.

I met my wife in 1996 - that day would prove to be significant obviously for the rest of my life now. But there was a December day, in 2002 when the phone rang. I said, "Hello" and unexpectedly it was her voice. And from that moment, I have reason to Celebrate every day.

Positive Reflection helps us value and build the moments we live now. Use the tools your glorious life has give you. Celebrate.

Good morning, Greater Day. Greater You - created all along the way.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Awaken Your Day - Make friends with reminders

Inspiration can find you anywhere, and reminders ... well, those are like ninjas. Hundreds of ninjas.

Be open to life’s reminders. Allow them in. Spend a solid moment with them. They are not the enemy. They are the little gutter ball rails that help us keep ourselves pointed at the targets we set for our goals.

Be aware of these real life little kicks in the “stay alert” pants. Like this morning, as I was walking ( whining) around the track I saw this ....

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - greeting Ninjas.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

July 2, 2018

Awaken Your Day - Replay - July 1, 2018

AYD - another replay worth the replay. I enjoyed remembering this one today. I hope it gives you smiles to think about. Enjoy your day.

Awaken Your Day - June 29, 2016 - Can Find You Anywhere

Inspiration can find you anywhere, and often in memories.
For those of us with children - having them reach milestones is extra special for us because it takes us back to those moments in our own time, and we touch the feelings we once knew. The difference is the knowing - the having been there - and now seeing what they are experiencing takes me back to a simpler and growing time.

Having a little man coming to the end of grade one, reading his little "memory pages" and seeing his friends signing their farewells and words of friendship to remember - well, I must say my mind raced back to the old days. My whole life flashed before my eyes. My school life. All the places that I have lived, the friends that I knew; moments that stand out. Smiles. Tears. Hello and goodbye. Have a great summer. Stay in touch. Hey you wanna come over and play?

Shaping moments. Simpler yet so important steps. I miss them.

I don't have a point today really. Just go take a walk. In these moments we get so preciously to walk with our children on paths we have travelled, take a moment of your own to smile and reflect on the pictures hung on your memory trails. They walk in our steps. Remember the friendships that stand out. Who those friends were to our lives. Why we might still miss them now. Why we wish them well. And yes, how it feels inside for you, to say to any of them when our paths cross, "I'm doing alright" while we play catch up.

You know now, all about back then. So hold their hand a little tighter, say goodnight a little softer, and hug a little longer. As you recall, the precious moments come and go so quickly - let them know it is good to remember and that so many new adventures are still to come. For them, and for you.

Good morning, Greater day. Greater You .. another day in the making.
AYD - PIerre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Awaken Your Day - June 30, 2018 - Help it burn.

"You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them but by building a fire within them."
- Bob Nelson, best selling author and motivational speaker

"What do I have to do to light a fire under your ass?!" - said a few different people to me when I was younger. Oh, if only I knew then, what I continue to learn now. More so, if only THEY knew then ... what I know now - about people, life and me.

I think of work, and past coworkers. Old jobs, old friends.
School. Family. Ah ha moments and passions coming into view. Moments feeling lost and no sunshine in sight.
All around us we can recall and touch memories that relate to a fire within ... or a lack of.

So let us focus, try to embrace the obvious. What lights our fire? What ignites our passions? How do we stoke that fire, catch a flame? What drives you on to be your best? At work, at play, and in your pursuit of a happy You.

We can build our own fire within - and watch those flames light up all the reasons we want to keep it that fire burning bright.

Good morning, Greater Day. Greater You - feeling the burn.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Original Post June 30, 2017

Awaken Your Day - Let them know You

Sometimes it’s all about you, sharing the best about You. - Pierre

Your mission today, should you choose to Awaken it for someone else...

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - shining a light on another’s greatness.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

June 29, 2018

Awaken Your Day - June 28, 2018 - Been There, Feeling That

AYD - Replay because this describes it just fine.

" I walk around like everything is fine, but deep down, inside my shoe, my sock is sliding off."
- Somewhere off the internet

Sometimes, all we need to remember, is that we are not alone in so many of our daily experiences. Good and not so good.

Share your good, and others will share some more.
Witness the energy grow.
With the not so good, look around you to those you perceive as strong, people you know or dominant ones in a crowd, and remember, they were not always that way. They too wear socks.

Good morning, Greater Day. Greater you, because you can...and will be.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Original Post - June 28, 2016

Awaken Your Day - June 27, 2018 - Early to Rise - Still Important

"Show up early for everything."
- Grant Cardone

We have to be somewhere. We are planning something. Often we are anxious. Almost always because...we worry about being late.

Coming from someone who used to have a real problem with time management... okay, in some ways I still do but that is free time so that is for another day.... but, I used to always be running late. And there is a ripple effect of consequence for it that we often do not sit down to really look at.

Being early gives you time to get your plan in motion, get your notes in order, get your day started before the phone rings. You can be calm, you can make a list, you can PREPARE for all things coming. And you can prepare you. Coming in late is like joining a running race 20 seconds after the gun went off; no matter what you do all day you will feel like you are struggling to catch up.

Take a moment ... an early moment ... to "show up" and get your wits about you. You will see the benefits. More importantly, you will feel the benefits as you are not only physically and maybe mentally prepared for anything in your day, but you will be emotionally prepared ... and that is the one that keeps us from the many tiers of exhaustion.

Good morning, Greater day. Greater You ... Already ahead of schedule.
AYD - PIerre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my day.

Original Posted - June 27, 2016

Awaken Your Day - Simple and Effective

Whatever you are, be a good one.

That is all.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - simply demostrating the greater you.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

June 25, 2018

Awaken Your Day – Virus Protection

Negativity

Neg-a-tiv-i-ty

If I was in a spelling contest I would ask for a different word.
I don’t like this one. I don’t like how it looks when I type it; I don’t like how it lingers and takes so long to roll out with five syllables. It drags to say it, and it drags energy to feel it.
I'm being Negative about Negativity.

I envision a dark cloud that just rolls in. It just grows, and rolls and surrounds. Worse … it’s like a Venus Flytrap. Once you are curious … it just waits to pull you in. When you try to escape … picture that for a second.

Do a little test today, but be careful. As you go about your day, tune in a little more to the assorted conversations around you. I regret to bet you become more aware of an increase in judgement, criticism, comments of dissatisfaction, statements identifying what is lacking versus what is gained.

We do not realize how widespread it is.

I draw your attention to it so you can appreciate your lack of it. Enjoy your self made virus protection. Be thankful for all the work you do to avoid the flytrap. ( Or… all the work you will now do …)

Negativity attracts more negativity. So after your test, do your best, to share some kind of positive news. On purpose. Change the forecast and stay away from sticky traps. Just like one small random act of kindness, if we all just take a moment and look to be more Positive Purposed, a difference can be made.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You – fulfilling your assignment.
AYD – Pierre Couturier – Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

June 23, 2018

Awaken Your Day - Grateful.. all day.

"The struggle ends when the gratitude begins."
- Neale Donald Walsch

For many, this is the last day of a work week. For many others it is the middle of a shift... you get the picture.
Pause for gratitude identification. Think of what your hard work so far has done for YOU.

Spend some time shining a light on your gratitude and the tough times won't be so hard to get through.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You ... giving thanks for what makes you a Greater You.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

June 22, 2018

Awaken Your Day – Well that’s a first….

“Once you have adventured into that First Step, no one can take that away from you. Not even you.” – Pierre Couturier

What if before every challenge you face, you could train your thoughts to first focus all your energy to hoist up your Grand Book of Successes ? Some would bring this concept under that wonderful skill called – Confidence. They would be right. But confidence is supported at the top, by all those descriptive milestone step words that come with each achievement that creates the foundation levels for confidence to ride on.

Growth, Desire, Passion, Achievement, Self Betterment, Creation, Determination, Goal … and many more. All of these words are steps, and all these steps are successes along your journey to discovering, and more so Creating, the Better You. The Awakened you .

And underneath all these “steps” is that foundational one. It is simply, the First Step. Now if you picture this emotional success pyramid with all its steps, that first one as you can see, must be strong in significance. Significant because in many ways, a lot is built on top after it is established, and it must be in place for those others to find their position and hold it.

Before any challenge you face, count on a First Step from your life to remind you that you have done this before. You have stepped up into Adventure and continued to climb. Recalling these first steps, can bring our focus back to Confidence with reason … and challenges become part of the exciting climb.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You – every first time.
AYD – Pierre Couturier – Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day
Photo – FIRST STRIPE

June 21, 2018

Awaken Your Day - Toolbox Talk

So, in construction, part of the standard before a shift is the Tool Box talk. In short, the team or crew get together, they discuss a safety topic that is new for the day but supports the overall culture by triggering awareness. Then they will review the working conditions, weather, other activities around their work area.
They discuss the plan for the day and all they need to execute that plan. "Are you fit for duty?" gets asked and everyone and then answers accordingly.

Without realizing it, everyone does a little checklist in their head on this one, Or so I think so.

And then they do their hazard analysis and identify what can be done to mitigate the hazards around their work plan.

There are many quiet parallels between our work processes and our personal processes. Often we are surprised to find how interchangable, and valuable they are.

So ... with respect to our Personal Toolbox talk before we tackle the world today ... Are you fit for duty? Do you have all your Tools? Have we identified the risks we face?

Fit - energized, determined, success minded, positive.
Tools - drive, desire, great self esteem, Belief, proven success list.
Risk mitigation - stress is a modified tool and therefore not allowed on site so we ditch it. Doubt is an unproven and non engineered plan so we ditch it.

You have what it takes to find many definitions of success every day. Keep those simple words in your toolbox all day.

Now ... get living.
Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - working the plan.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

June 20, 2018

Awaken Your Day - A mountain of successful thoughts.

"Success is determined not so much by the size of one's brain as it is by the size of one's thinking."
- Excerpt from "The Magic of Thinking Big"

Goal for the day - One thing at a time.
Word of the day - Believe
Theme for the day - "Success is Mine"

A great week is picking up speed.
Awaken Your Day with a Choice to embrace every encounter with Belief that you will Succeed and not only will you build momentum that lasts, but you will feel balanced as you do.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - building a mountain of successful thoughts.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day
( Photo by John Cooke - Extraordinary Inspiration)

June 19, 2018

Awaken Your Day - Opportunity

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
- J.K. Rowling

Opportunity Monday says that there is a whole lot of life you can give each moment you are in right now, instead of wishing for a weekend.

If all you do is "survive" until the weekend you will find there is never enuf time to live life to the fullest when you get there. But if you fill each day between now and then with more effort to live more fully constantly - the weekend will be that much more free and full when you reach it.

Have the Best Monday you can remember.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - here and now.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

June 18, 2018

Awaken Your Father's Day - June 17, 2018

AYD - Happy Fathers Day to all the dads. New dads and old and repeat dad’s and step dads and foster and adopted and pet dads too. No matter if there is one or ten that call you Dad, enjoy your role today because there is not another role in this life you will have that is quite the same. This one is special.

Now I may just browse through some pics and remember all of our little man’s growth so that I can recall all of my own growth thanks to everything Jaxon has helped me become.

Have a fantastic and Awakened day.

Awaken Your Day - June 16, 2018 - This is Now, Because of Then

"Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late. Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minute for each of us to sense the fact that life is good, with all of its trials and troubles, and perhaps more interesting because of them."
- Robert R. Updegraff

Just a little reminder. You are here and you are now. Your steps along the way to here are filled with memories, good and bad, as well as Lessons Learned, some hard and some enjoyable.

Life is more understood due to what we experience on our way to this moment. Life in front of us is full of potential because of where we stand mentally and emotionally right now looking forward.

On the big scale, life. On the more immediate ... the day.

Good morning, greater day. Greater you with every day.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy, and Author to my Day.

Original Post June 16, 2016

Awaken Your Day – Throw me so that I may learn how to land.

There will be times in life that you will most certainly get tossed.
You may land soft, or hard. You may lose your bearings, and surely your breath.
You may lose energy, emotion, and drive. You may want to give up.
You will get tossed… by something or someone and often beyond your control.
And… you will grow tremendously, because Inspiration will find you everywhere, even when you are floating through the air when your feet are taken out from under you.
We can teach ourselves to learn from every toss.
We learn to identify the pain and all of its variations.
We learn to love and what it is to be loved.
We learn to be taught, and comradery.
We learn to stand back up.
We learn confidence, and understanding.
We learn how to avoid the take down, and what to do should we do go down.
We learn to roll, and break the fall.
We learn not to panic.
We learn to communicate, with ourselves and others.
We learn to give the way we wish to receive.
We learn how to feel, and how we influence feeling.
We learn to land, and we learn to breathe.
We learn to find the treasure in every toss.
There is treasure to be found in every toss that life will test you with.
Maybe we are unable to see it right away … I suggest it is more that we often are not aware to try.
One toss at a time … and we will take compounding treasure forward to challenge the next.

So, find a moment in your memory when you were tossed – where are you now? What treasure can you consider that you may have overlooked. Enjoy the day with your new found riches. See where you can invest it.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You – learning to land strong and ready.
AYD – Pierre Couturier – Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day – well, after I got tossed in Jiu Jitsu and found my inspiration for the day.

(Photo by Krystal Black/Rodrigo Resende)

Awaken Your Day - June 12, 2018 - Say Thanks

"Behind every great man there is a surprised woman."
- Maryon Pearson

Someone helped you to this level of happiness in your life.
Probably alot of someones. Think of one. Think of two.

Take a moment to honour them today. With a thought, a smile, a hug and a Thank You. Say it to the heavens, say it on the phone or drop them a text just to put it out there.

"Thanks! Your support helped me get here."

Good morning, Greater Day. Greater You - with help along the way.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Original Post June 12, 2017

Awaken Your Day - 51%

What do you think of when I mention .... 51%?

What comes to mind? Maybe ...grades in school, passing grade, over half way, home stretch, great ROI, or the accuracy of my free throws on the tiny office basketball net on the back of my door.

What if I said 51% as it relates to business? And by that I mean, YOUR business ... of day to day challenges. Then 51% might be in line with ... Hostile Takeover.

When you watch television drama you will often come across someone being sneaky and gaining control of a company. They say something like, "I now have 51% of your company. I have Controlling Interest."

Let's grab that principle.

Start of the week. Opportunity Monday. Your week, your day, or any challenge you face. Stress, addiction, task, etc etc. I believe that once we identify that challenge honestly to ourselves and confess within where we stand ... we have initiated our own Hostile Takeover, and now have 51% Controlling Interest. No one can take that from you.

You recognize and in that you capitalize.
We will explore my 51% philosophy more in the coming weeks, but for today ... just acknowledge what challenges we think we have to face. See them for what they are and identify exactly where we stand on them ... and then, know it in your gut, that you have 51% Controlling Interest in this situation.

That means YOU decide how this is going to play out.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - with a well planned Hostile Takeover.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day

June 11,2018

Awaken Your Day - June 10, 2018 - Cause You've Got...Personality

"You've got to be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?"
- Bernadette Peters

How about ... you've got to be original, because that is far more interesting and fun for you and for me, than if you were just a carbon copy of someone else....

We are supposed to be different. The trick is not fully absorbing the look, sound or mannerisms of those we like, admire, respect or envy.

So... what makes you a different slice of pizza than everyone else you know. What makes you stand out in your own way? Don't be shy...it's not a test. You don't have to stand up and do a demo. You are not writing it here for the world to see ( unless you want to). Don't be bashful, or embarrassed. We need to speak up...most importantly to ourselves... What do you feel is original about you ?

Spend some time with the thought. Share if you want with others. Or just find a bounce in your step as you go about your day ... because you know something the rest of us don't. Enjoy your personality ... so that the rest of us can enjoy talking about what we like about you.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater you... should be recognized.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day.

Original Post June 10, 2016

Awaken Your Day - Wishing and Hoping

“I wish I could not wish.” – Gretchen Rubin

How many of us, immediately after voicing a "wish" , will get up and take some form of action?

How many of us think that the true cost of what we want in life all relies on that 25 cents we tossed into the well? Is that really our offering, when we ask to change our lives?

Start a habit. Make a wish. Go ahead. Now put a coin in your wallet - or tape it to the fridge - put it somewhere you will see it ... and be reminded. Now do something for your wish ... for everytime you dedicate a thought, or an action you are executing a plan. A blueprint even. A wish habit blueprint.

Wishing, and Doing and Growing is far better than Wishing and Hoping and Waiting.

Good Morning, Greater Day. Greater You - making wishes come true.
AYD - Pierre Couturier - Husband, Daddy and Author to my Day