Epic – n. very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary
Now we have something measurable:
Surpassing the ordinary.
So, I ask, what kind of life surpasses the ordinary?
One need only to look to those folks that we admire to find some answers.
- What is it that you respect in another person?
Or,
- What is it about that person that makes you want to spend as much time with them as possible?
This is a small list of epicness but an excellent place to start.
- Say, “I’m sorry.” How many people do you know that are quick to apologize? How many people do you know who refuse to? You decide which is epic. Apologize to someone today.
- Be willing to grow. I love meeting people who started out way over here, and ended up way over there. Their shifts in thinking change, and they become almost unrecognizable. They become who they are, but even that, is subject to assimilation at some other point if other factors are presented. Grow in some way today.
- Be a life-long learner. Grandma Moses was still painting at 101 years old. She was still learning. How many of us have stopped. Learn something today.
- Be healthy. You want to live an epic life? Put down the Dorito’s. Grab a handful of walnuts and go out for a run. Put on your mp3 and learn something while you’re at it. Helping yourself in three different ways, all at the same time…epic! Take care of at least one aspect of your health today.
- Help others. You don’t have to travel to India to help someone. A simple smile can make a difference. You can volunteer in your neighborhood. Coach, mentor. Have you found the keys to success in some area? Share it without charging. There are a lot of people waiting for you. Help someone today.
- Be an encourager. Some people go through life berating and chastising others. What a loss. Be different. Practice genuine compliment giving. Not to brag, but just to tell you that I want to live an epic life also, here is something that I do. When I hit the gym I scan it for overweight folks who are in there trying to get it done. I find a way to strike up a conversation (I might work out next to them or just say ‘hello’). Since I am there to work out, I make the conversation brief, but it is focused on encouragement. If they are receptive, I may throw in a pointer or two that can be put into practical use, such as: drinking a glass of grapefruit juice every day will create weight-loss without changing or adding anything else (up to eight pounds a month), or that an apple before a meal will help you eat less of the meal since the apple is a fibrous fruit (especially good if the meal is fried chicken!). It feels good when you see that someone has lost a good amount of weight and they thank you personally. Encourage someone today.
- Take chances. This may be the most important one on the list. To have any measurable success, one must take chances. We must flee our comfort zone. Nothing epic can be achieved by staying right where you are. Nothing. The people you read about and admire took chances. Join them.
- Be willing to suffer. We all will or have suffered in some way. Some was given to us by life, and others we asked for. We can’t do much to what life gives us except fight through it. We can eliminate a lot of the unnecessary suffering we endure by making better choices. There is a good kind of suffering, though. It is self-imposed and used for growth or success (or both). Some examples of this may be: shutting your favorite show off and doing something positive with the time, exercising or dieting, getting less sleep while building that business or going to class. These all will create some form of suffering. But they are all good reasons to suffer. Suffer today.
- Be persistent. Don’t be a quitter unless you want to be average. Look around. Do you notice those who have quit? Where are they? Have they named anything after them? Go after something. Use reckless abandon until you’ve achieved it. Then, go after something else. Start the habit of persistency. Be persistent today.
- Be a listener. Listen. Good listeners are worth their weight in gold. It is one the easiest ways to show a person that you care. Think about it for a moment. Which person do you enjoy spending time with, the one who cuts you off mid-sentence, or the one that actually listens, and then responds. Practice listening.
Well folks, this list is small but the impact, great. Let this be the encouragement you needed to live that life that has only been lived within the realm of your mind.
Take a small step today. And then, build upon it. Look back on this day as, THE DAY. The day everything changed by taking that first step.
Today does have power.
Live it LOUD!
Add your idea of epic living to the mix. Would love to hear your perspective.
Hi Rob! I absolutely agree we get to choose what kind of life we have, and if we follow our truth and do the right things for a living, we can enjoy an epic life. One lesson I’ve learned in my life is sometimes I start out on one path and end up on another path. I try not to limit my definition of my epic life, instead I focus on following my truth and open myself to seeing what will happen next especially on family illness and abusive family relationships, I can say the path to changing your life is not always simple or easy, but it is possible. Yes, even for you. Have a nice epic life!
Hi Rob,
Long time no see, hope all is well over there! Be willing to suffer is a good one. Sometimes in the middle of suffering you have to take a deep breath and walk away for a bit so you don’t get discouraged… I’ve moved my site over, which was a challenge, but I am still working on the weight. Must need someone like you at the gym to chat with or something :). It is a great time to listen to things I wouldn’t otherwise have time for, though. Still working on the listening, too…
Hey Julie,
Things are very well in these parts (and getting better). I’ve been working on several projects which is a good thing. My quality time with family is down a bit. So, I must focus the time I have better.
Yes, I would motivate you at the gym…but, you might not smile at me then:)
Julie, keep smiling my friend even when it’s hard. You are an awesome gal.
That is a great set of commandments to live your life by. I would perhaps add to it – find a reason to laugh long and loud every day and go for it!
Hey Debbie,
Excellent addition. Laughter may not be the best medicine, but indeed, it is good preventive medicine.
Thanks for stopping by.
Live it LOUD!
Ok lots of good pointers in there, thank you! I will work more on: Be Healthy and Be Persistent. They just became my week’s objectives! Ok the I’m sorry one is bugging me to… Think I got to print it out! hehe
By the way Rob, Have you encounter to enjoy your life to the fullest? How do you handle things by your own?
I’m one of those people who apologize really quickly, even when it may not be my fault. Is that rare to find nowadays? To find people who apologize quickly.
Point 5 is a bit tricky.
Once I experienced big problems as I tried to help to everybody and I forgot how to refuse. It really appearded to be a big problem for me to say no to others and sometimes I hepled people self-offencevely. So you shall of course help people but reasonable 🙂
Listening is one of the hardest ones to do today unless your a counselor. Take the time not only to smell the roses but truly listen to people. You only have one life to live so live a full one!
“Epic” is a totally novel way for me to think of living life. Even the first point on your list captured my attention. I definitely want to be someone that is humble enough to apologize, but I had never thought of it as a less-than-ordinary way to live life and something to work toward.
What I’ve learned from your post is that “epic” isn’t all about adventure. There are so many ways we can better ourselves and reflecting on this list has been a great way for me to start the new year! =) <3 Thanks, Rob!
Hi Rob,
Would like to add-on; Be Grateful! being thankful is living a Life with appreciation of the blessings received may it be great or small.
wow your epic rules are really mind blowing its seem me to live like epic i really enjoyed your blog its very interesting. thanks for sharing this epic king of blog ..
Hey Rob very Interesting Post I think some time we make circle and we have not break it. and our busy schedule we involved so much and do not give time our family and yourself we want to live epic lifestyle but we just think it.
I agree one needs to take chances. Even when we fail, when we take chances we learn. This new knowledge can than be applied and we can improve our chances for success.