How To Create Your Own “Perfect Life” Using This 7-Step Blueprint

My guess is you decided to read this post for one of two reasons…

1) You’re interested in a blueprint for creating a perfect life.

2) You think I’m full of shit and want to know what my “perfect life” blueprint looks like.

If it were me reading this, I’d probably be reading it for reason number two.

The “Perfect Life“

There’s a reason I put the words “perfect life” in quotations.

The reason being, there’s no such thing.

What’s perfect for me, may not be perfect for you and what’s perfect for you, may not be perfect for me.

And that’s completely cool.

There isn’t a right or wrong when it comes to creating a life, a “perfect life” that we want for ourselves.

One that makes us happy, excited to get up in the morning, fulfilled, and feeling like we are living up to our highest potential.

Tapping into the incredible potential, skills, ideas, and abilities that’s within all of us.

Greatness that exists in all of us right now.

Perception Is Reality

If I think my life sucks and only bad stuff happens to me, well then my life is going to suck and bad stuff is going to happen to me.

I find it both intriguing and annoying that the way we choose to view things, people, and situations, our perceptions of these, become our truths, including the perceptions we have about our own lives, the things, and the people we have around us.

If you and I see someone we feel has the “perfect life“, they do because we say and feel they do.

Our perception may be our reality although that doesn’t mean our perception is the truth.

We see someone with lots of money and believe they must have it easy… do they?

We see someone with a killer body and abs and think it must come easy for them… does it?

We see someone who’s always laughing and think they must be really happy… are they?

We see a couple whose relationship seems perfect… is it?

The perfect life, the perfect situation, the perfect opportunity, the perfect whatever is only perfect because we say so and believe it’s perfect.

That’s great news for you and I because what that means is, a perfect life is what we say, believe, and make it out to be.

So There’s No “Perfect Life” Blueprint?

There most certainly is.

A perfect life blueprint is what we make it.

No one blueprint is the same.

As I mentioned earlier, what’s perfect for me, may not be perfect for you and what’s perfect for you, may not be perfect for me.

Success does leave crumbs and while I highly suggest we all follow these crumbs, we’re all going to decide how and what to do with the each crumb we come across.

Alright, enough crumb talk – what the hell does this all mean?

What it means is that there is a way of creating your own personal “perfect life” blueprint. 

7-Step Blueprint For Creating The “Perfect Life“

1) Take Care Of Yourself

Here’s a simple truth… if you eat like shit, you’re going to feel like shit.

You don’t have to make gourmet meals, shop at Whole Foods, buy organic everything, or jump on the latest diet bandwagon.

Get rid of the sodas and fruit juices and go for water and wine (yes wine) instead.

As crazy as it sounds, you’re better off drinking a glass of wine than a glass of soda.

Get rid of the fried foods and go for grilled or baked.

Replace fast food with good food (salads and salmon not burgers and fries).

Exercise, walk, jump around, actively move your body around for 30 minutes a day.

Not only is it good for you physically, but mentally as well.

Less stress and anxiety, more confident and energy.

It doesn’t have to be hard – let’s not make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Eat well and move more – simple.

Here’s a shopping list of foods to buy, eat, and keep at home.

Here’s 40 clean-eating healthy snacks.

And here’s a quick 20 minute workout that requires no equipment that you can do anywhere, regardless of your current fitness level

My man and late mentor said it best…

“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.”

2) Be Grateful

If you want to be miserable and feel like shit, focus on all the things you can’t do and don’t have.

If on the other hand, you want to feel happy and fulfilled, focus on all the things you can do and do have.

I suggest writing every day in a gratitude journal.

Again, don’t make it a process and a big deal – keep it simple.

Write one thing, every morning, that you’re grateful for.

It can be absolutely anything – your breakfast, your kids, your health, the fact you’re breathing, that you had a good night sleep, that you have a job, anything.

It’s emotionally impossible to feel gratitude and unhappy at the same time.

Best to do this first thing in the morning so that you start your day off with a gracious mindset.

Here’s a few resources to help you get started…

How To Use Gratitude To Increase Happiness Video

Head on over to my good friend David Ryan’s website to download his free gratitude workbook called:

How To Create An Attitude of Gratitude In Less Than 5 Minutes Per Day

3) Take Risks

There’s nothing wrong with playing it safe in life.

Many people do and that’s just fine, nothing wrong with it.

Keep in mind though that…

The same walls that keep out risk are the same walls that keep out adventure, fun, happiness, fulfillment, growth, opportunity, and massive rewards.

Unless none of these are important to you, which I don’t believe for a second…

Start taking risks.

It doesn’t have to be wild and crazy ones either like quitting your job to travel the world, skydiving, or go running with the bulls…. although these all do sound quite fun 🙂

Keep is simple.

Change things up, get out of your normal routine, step outside of your comfort zone.

Try a new recipe, order a different entree, take a new class, drive a different way to work, start a blog, sign up for a fitness event… it could be anything.

Here’s a fun way to help you begin taking more risks…

Create a bucket list!

Yes, a bucket list… even if you already have one, create another one.

Here’s a printable worksheet I created for you to help you complete this exercise.

List 5 ideas for under each of the following categories:

This Month

List 5 ideas for different risks to take this month and see how many you can complete. Keep these simple such as the ideas I mentioned earlier (a new recipe, new entree, drive a new way to work, etc).

This Year

List 5 ideas for different risks to take this year and again, see how many you can complete. Make these a bit more challenging such as take a new class or course, register for a fitness event you’ve never done before, travel somewhere you’ve never been but always wanted to go.

Long Term

List 5 ideas that are on the very top of your all time bucket list. Travel the world, go skydiving, start your own business, write a book, run a marathon in every state – anything goes.

You’ll notice that as you work your way from the easier “risks” to the bigger, more adventurous ones on your list, you’re confidence will build as you go.

Before you know it, you’ll be doing, exploring, creating, discovering, feeling, and becoming more than you ever thought possible.

“In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take.”

4) Admit When You’re Wrong

There’s no faster way of creating a “perfect life” than admitting when you’re wrong.

You ever notice how quickly people are forgiven and often times even celebrated for acknowledging when they’re wrong or their wrong doing?

Take athletes for example… those who fight tooth and nail defending themselves of wrong doing when it comes to using performance enhancing drugs who are later found guilty.

It’s these athletes who are often the most scrutinized and condemned.

Meanwhile, the same athlete who admits to his wrong doing, takes responsibility for his actions, and apologies for it, is not only forgiven, but more often than not, commended for their honesty and ownership of their wrong doing.

Being wrong isn’t optional, it’s going to happen to all of us (it happens to me a lot).

And that’s OK, it’s part of life, learning, and growing.

Admitting when we’re wrong on the other hand, is optional.

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”

5) Serve Others

During an interview I did with Compete For The Best Life Podcast, I was asked the following question…. “If I had 30 seconds to share one piece of advice with anyone that would help them pursue a better life, what would that be?”

I didn’t have to think twice to answer this question.

“It’s simple – serve others.”

There are so many ways in which to serve others.

Serving can mean helping someone move, supporting a friends podcast by leaving them an iTunes review, encouraging runners during a race, motivating volunteers during a blood drive, listening to someone when life’s thrown them a curve ball or two, smiling at a complete stranger just because.

The list goes on and on.

I often hear, “well I’d like to serve or volunteer more, I just don’t have the money or the time.”

I can serve, you can serve, we can all serve without the need for much time, money, or effort.

I mean really, how much effort does it take to smile at someone?

How much money, time, or effort does it take to call a friend who’s going through a tough time to ask how they’re doing?

Serving others means doing what you can, when you can, and how you can to make someone else’s life easier, better, happier.

There are numerous ways to help serve others. It can be through community welfare, special needs assistance, youth work, adult education, advocacy, fundraising and everything in between. 

Here’s a great resource to help you find opportunities near you to serve others: www.volunteermatch.org

“Only a life lived in the service of others is worth living.” 

6) Drown Out The Noise

There’s more noise around us now than ever before.

And by noise, I mean distractions.

Cell phones, text messages, emails, Facebook, Netflix…

On top of that, because everyone is an expert now thanks to the internet, everyone and their mother is ready and willing to tell you what’s best for you, what you should do, and how you should do it.

Noise, all of it.

It’s this noise that stops us from really enjoying special moments, from remaining focused and staying the course, from trying new things and taking different risks.

Everyone will have an opinion of what you’re doing, what you want to do, or plan to do.

And they’re entitled to their opinion.

People’s opinions are a projection of what they believe to be true.

It’s a projection, that’s all it is.

It isn’t the truth, it isn’t false; it’s a projection, a thought, an idea, a belief.

Listen to it, consider it, and then you decide if and what you will do with it.

Personally, I often find myself taking the approach Robert Downey Jr. suggests…

“Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever the fuck you were going to do anyways.”

When talking with someone, on the phone or in person, especially in person, drown out the noise.

Make it a point to be present.

Give them 100% of your undivided attention.

Don’t worry about who’s calling you or who else is around you.

Same goes for when you’re spending time with family and friends. Your text messages, your Facebook feed, and your emails can wait. 

If you’ve committed to a weight loss plan, a training schedule, taking a course, a mastermind group, a new business, whatever it may be… stay focused and stay the course.

Don’t worry about what else is going on around you, what other people are saying or doing… none of it matters. What matters is you, your goals, your happiness, and all you’re out to do and achieve.

Focus (follow one course until success) is essential if we are to succeed at anything.

Follow any one weight loss plan to a tee, and you will successfully lose weight.

Listen to the noise, start mix and matching different weight loss plans because of what you’re reading, hearing, and what others are telling you to do (all noise), and you won’t lose a pound.

Let’s keep it real, let’s keep it simple… Drown out the noise and stay focused.

7) Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

Whenever we compare ourselves to others, we’re taking away from all we’ve done, achieved, and accomplished.

For example, if you lose 5 pounds (which is awesome) and compare it to the weight loss of a friend who lost 15 pounds in the same time frame, instead of being happy about your 5 pounds, you’re now sad because it’s not the 15 pounds your friend lost.

Sad because you only lost 5 pounds compared to the 15 pounds your friend lost which causes you to look down on your awesome and amazing progress of losing 5 pounds.

In school, I was always a  C student at best, and I was damn proud of it too.

I would study my tail off for that C.

Now, if I were to compare myself with everyone else who got an A or a B, then I would have never been proud of myself and my accomplishments and how hard I worked for that C.

We’re all different.

We all learn, grow, achieve, and live life in our own way and at our own pace.

One isn’t better than the other, they’re both awesome.

This podcast, Why Comparing Yourself To Others Is Silly & Holding You Back From Health, Happiness, & Success, takes a deeper dive into why and how to stop comparing ourselves to others.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Strive For Progress Not Perfection

With all 7 steps I’ve mentioned here to help you build your “perfect life“, I hope the message is clear that the “perfect life” is what you decide it to be.

A perfect life is about striving to be better, to be more, do more, and become more.

To make a difference in our own lives through health and happiness as well as in the lives of others through service and gratitude.

Life isn’t perfect, and neither are we.

The fact we’re here with a chance to make it perfect…

That, is perfect.

You’re awesome!

Mike