Here is an inspiring video I found on You Tube. It's based on a true story of father and son. Better get your kleenex ready - it's a real tear jerker! Enjoy!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Fear of Regret: The Greatest Motivator
When we’re feeling unmotivated, we often try to seek out positive inspiration like the possibility of earning more money, experiencing the satisfaction of achievement, or receiving the praise and admiration of others for our accomplishments. However, more “negative” concepts can often serve as powerful motivators too.
Take, for instance, the fear of regret. You may already have a collection of common fears lurking in your subconscious, such as the fear of stepping out of your comfort zones, the fear of failure or success, and the fear that you don’t have the talent and strength necessary to achieve your dreams. While these fears often work against you by paralyzing you into inaction, the fear of regret can work FOR you by urging you to take action!
Here’s how: consider for a moment what you will do and how you will feel if you DON’T accomplish what you want in life.
Fast forward through your life to your final few minutes upon this earth, and imagine how you would feel knowing that you wasted the chance you’d been given to create an amazing life. How would that make you feel? Can you imagine the horrible weight of regret that would sit on your heart? Can you imagine how keenly you would wish for a chance to start over again? Really allow yourself to feel the way you would if this became your reality. It may seem to be a morbid mind-set, but it’s important because you may indeed be heading toward such a fate.
Stories and quotes about regret are plentiful. Millions of people, at the moment of their demise suddenly wish they had done things differently, and this is probably not the first time you’re reading words like these.
However, instead of reflecting on these words for a mere few minutes and then forgetting them, I want you to carry them in your heart always. I want you to USE the fear of regret to accomplish great things. Remember that your life is not a dress rehearsal. You are here for a limited amount of time, and then that’s it! It’s over! Curtains! It may seem to be an overly dramatic view of life, but you can’t argue the fact that it’s true.
If you keep this in mind throughout the rest of your days, you will be able to use the fear of regret to propel you forward like nothing ever has before. The fear of regret can be the MOST POWERFUL MOTIVATOR you’ll ever have.
If you want to make this fear work for you, learn to use it in effective ways. Learn how to make your fear of regret much larger and more ominous than your fear of taking action. Let the fear of regret become your constant companion. Allow yourself to feel terrified of mediocrity and a mundane existence. Take time to ponder the horrible consequences of not trying to better your life.
Stop worrying so much about what might happen if you DO move forward, and worry instead about what will happen if you DON’T.
And then do something about it.
Take, for instance, the fear of regret. You may already have a collection of common fears lurking in your subconscious, such as the fear of stepping out of your comfort zones, the fear of failure or success, and the fear that you don’t have the talent and strength necessary to achieve your dreams. While these fears often work against you by paralyzing you into inaction, the fear of regret can work FOR you by urging you to take action!
Here’s how: consider for a moment what you will do and how you will feel if you DON’T accomplish what you want in life.
Fast forward through your life to your final few minutes upon this earth, and imagine how you would feel knowing that you wasted the chance you’d been given to create an amazing life. How would that make you feel? Can you imagine the horrible weight of regret that would sit on your heart? Can you imagine how keenly you would wish for a chance to start over again? Really allow yourself to feel the way you would if this became your reality. It may seem to be a morbid mind-set, but it’s important because you may indeed be heading toward such a fate.
Stories and quotes about regret are plentiful. Millions of people, at the moment of their demise suddenly wish they had done things differently, and this is probably not the first time you’re reading words like these.
However, instead of reflecting on these words for a mere few minutes and then forgetting them, I want you to carry them in your heart always. I want you to USE the fear of regret to accomplish great things. Remember that your life is not a dress rehearsal. You are here for a limited amount of time, and then that’s it! It’s over! Curtains! It may seem to be an overly dramatic view of life, but you can’t argue the fact that it’s true.
If you keep this in mind throughout the rest of your days, you will be able to use the fear of regret to propel you forward like nothing ever has before. The fear of regret can be the MOST POWERFUL MOTIVATOR you’ll ever have.
If you want to make this fear work for you, learn to use it in effective ways. Learn how to make your fear of regret much larger and more ominous than your fear of taking action. Let the fear of regret become your constant companion. Allow yourself to feel terrified of mediocrity and a mundane existence. Take time to ponder the horrible consequences of not trying to better your life.
Stop worrying so much about what might happen if you DO move forward, and worry instead about what will happen if you DON’T.
And then do something about it.
Friday, November 9, 2007
3 Simple Ways to Stimulate Your Creative Inspiration
When you’re not used to tapping your natural creative flow, it can seem incredibly difficult to awaken it. You may be so used to working long hours, dealing with problems, fighting traffic, or living your life on autopilot that you’ve forgotten how it feels to be creative and inspired.
You may be surprised to learn that awakening your creative inspiration can be a simple and quick process, if you use the right activities to do so.
Below are three simple suggestions for stimulating your creative inspiration.
Exercise. Exercise helps your body release all those feel-good endorphins that benefit you in so many ways. Besides better health and clearer thinking, your creative inspiration is naturally triggered by physical activity. Not just any physical activity, but those that make you feel happy and energetic. Try walking briskly through a natural setting, dancing to upbeat music, or even engaging in a more soothing exercise like yoga. After your exercise session, spend a few minutes gently stretching your muscles and relaxing your body. Not only will you feel wonderful physically, but your senses will awaken and your creative inspiration will flow more naturally.
Meditate. Meditation is great for stress relief and spiritual pursuits, but it can also create a harmonious environment for your creative inspiration. In order to tap into your creativity, you need to feel relaxed, peaceful and happy. Meditation can easily help you achieve this, and it’s not as complex as you might fear. Meditation can be as simple as sitting quietly with your eyes closed for 10 or 15 minutes. The objective is to quiet your mental chatter and rest in a state of inner peacefulness. This may be challenging at first if you’ve never meditated before, but the more you do it the stronger your mental focus will get. It’s not uncommon for people to start with only 10 minutes of meditation a day, and quickly decide they like it so much that they extend that time to 30 or even 60 minutes! If you stick with it long enough, you’ll notice that not only do you feel more creative, you feel calm and in control in all areas of your life.
Breathe. Deep breathing gets ALL of your energy flowing more freely, which also boosts your creative inspiration. Most of us are shallow breathers, using only a portion of our lung capacity. This is especially true if you have a hectic and stressful life. Get into the habit of taking very slow, deep breaths several times a day and you’ll quickly notice a difference in how you think and feel. A “deep” breath is one that starts in your abdomen. Place your hand on your tummy and allow it to expand as you begin inhaling. Once your abdomen is expanded fully, continue expanding up through your chest, fully filling your lungs with air. Then slowly exhale until your lungs are deflated. Do this 2 or 3 times, slowly so you don’t hyperventilate and get dizzy. As you breathe deeply, imagine that you can feel your energy flowing freely through your body, awakening all of your senses. Besides being very relaxing, you’ll quickly notice that deep breathing makes your mind seem sharper and clearer, which helps you more easily tap into your creative inspiration.
Of course, once you’ve awakened your creative inspiration, it’s a good idea to set aside time for the expression of it. Even if you have limited time available, devote a few minutes a day to creative pursuits that make you feel good. By doing so, you keep your creative energy flowing more steadily.
You may be surprised to learn that awakening your creative inspiration can be a simple and quick process, if you use the right activities to do so.
Below are three simple suggestions for stimulating your creative inspiration.
Exercise. Exercise helps your body release all those feel-good endorphins that benefit you in so many ways. Besides better health and clearer thinking, your creative inspiration is naturally triggered by physical activity. Not just any physical activity, but those that make you feel happy and energetic. Try walking briskly through a natural setting, dancing to upbeat music, or even engaging in a more soothing exercise like yoga. After your exercise session, spend a few minutes gently stretching your muscles and relaxing your body. Not only will you feel wonderful physically, but your senses will awaken and your creative inspiration will flow more naturally.
Meditate. Meditation is great for stress relief and spiritual pursuits, but it can also create a harmonious environment for your creative inspiration. In order to tap into your creativity, you need to feel relaxed, peaceful and happy. Meditation can easily help you achieve this, and it’s not as complex as you might fear. Meditation can be as simple as sitting quietly with your eyes closed for 10 or 15 minutes. The objective is to quiet your mental chatter and rest in a state of inner peacefulness. This may be challenging at first if you’ve never meditated before, but the more you do it the stronger your mental focus will get. It’s not uncommon for people to start with only 10 minutes of meditation a day, and quickly decide they like it so much that they extend that time to 30 or even 60 minutes! If you stick with it long enough, you’ll notice that not only do you feel more creative, you feel calm and in control in all areas of your life.
Breathe. Deep breathing gets ALL of your energy flowing more freely, which also boosts your creative inspiration. Most of us are shallow breathers, using only a portion of our lung capacity. This is especially true if you have a hectic and stressful life. Get into the habit of taking very slow, deep breaths several times a day and you’ll quickly notice a difference in how you think and feel. A “deep” breath is one that starts in your abdomen. Place your hand on your tummy and allow it to expand as you begin inhaling. Once your abdomen is expanded fully, continue expanding up through your chest, fully filling your lungs with air. Then slowly exhale until your lungs are deflated. Do this 2 or 3 times, slowly so you don’t hyperventilate and get dizzy. As you breathe deeply, imagine that you can feel your energy flowing freely through your body, awakening all of your senses. Besides being very relaxing, you’ll quickly notice that deep breathing makes your mind seem sharper and clearer, which helps you more easily tap into your creative inspiration.
Of course, once you’ve awakened your creative inspiration, it’s a good idea to set aside time for the expression of it. Even if you have limited time available, devote a few minutes a day to creative pursuits that make you feel good. By doing so, you keep your creative energy flowing more steadily.
You're Already Working Hard at Something
One of the biggest reasons we often feel unmotivated is because it seems too hard to make the changes we want to see in our lives. It’s easier to sit back and do nothing, moan and groan about how awful everything is, how tired we are of floating in a river of mediocrity. But it only seems easier to do that because we’ve gotten USED to doing that.
In truth, you are already working hard at staying where you are. Do you think it’s easy to ignore the desire to reach for more? Do you think it’s easy to hold yourself back from achieving your biggest dreams? What you’re doing is like balancing on a fence. Momentum wants to pull you in one direction, while your fears or doubts are pulling you in another direction. It takes tremendous endurance to stay balanced between two powerful forces like that!
Since you’re already working hard at staying stationary, it is a simple matter to shift your focus and redirect your energies to begin moving forward.
How?
It seems like a major leap to move from where you are to where you’d rather be, but it’s important to note that there is probably just ONE THING that stands between you and your ability to move forward. This one thing will be different for everyone, but review the most common reasons below and see if they apply to you:
Fear:
You’ve gotten it into your head that something bad will happen if you begin working toward what you want. You have a feeling of dread or doom, and you feel sure that you’ll somehow screw it up or fail. You don’t want to experience that feeling of failure, so you choose to not try at all.
What should you fear more: taking a chance and possibly failing, or never trying at all and creating a certain life of mediocrity? When you look at it like that, you’ll see that fear of failure is ridiculous. It seems overwhelming at times, yes. But it means nothing in the big scheme of things. So you may stumble and fall a few times. Big deal! Just dust yourself off and get moving again! It may sound overly simple for me to say that, but once you experience it for yourself, you realize how silly a fear of failure really is.
Doubt:
Even if you don’t fear failure, you might lack confidence in your own ability to overcome challenges and create the life you want. You might even doubt your ability to know the right path for you.
The only way to know for sure is to try! If you want to make positive changes in your life, you HAVE to be willing to believe that you have what it takes – even a tiny bit. You have to believe that even if you don’t initially have what it takes to succeed, you can work on developing it. Do you think that ANY successful person was just born that way? Of course not! Each and every one of them had to go through a learning curve, and continually push themselves past their limits. They had to start small and take one step at a time, honing their skills, developing new ones, and further strengthening those too. You are no different; you have the same exact ability to do what they have done.
Laziness:
Let’s be honest; sometimes we all feel lazy. We like taking the easy way out as often as possible. We’d rather sit and stare at a television screen or computer screen because we don’t have to think too hard, or work too hard. We can just collapse into a vegetative state and not have to overcome challenges or face our fears. Unfortunately, this creates a set of consequences all its own, some of which you may be experiencing right now.
Let me share a secret with you: you can still have your periods of laziness AND excel beyond your wildest dreams! It’s all about balance.
I wouldn’t be serving you at all if I told you to avoid the activities you enjoy. You NEED those things. You need to have a fun social life, and plenty of downtime to relax and recharge. But you also need MORE than those things. You need a sense of pride and accomplishment about what you do. You need the contrast of working hard, followed by playing hard, followed by resting easy.
So, what’s stopping you from moving forward? Is it fear, doubt, laziness, or something else? Identify your inner blockage, and then take steps to blast it the heck out of your life. Stop working hard at mediocrity, and start working hard at success. Let your inner momentum carry you forward toward the life you truly want – and deserve.
In truth, you are already working hard at staying where you are. Do you think it’s easy to ignore the desire to reach for more? Do you think it’s easy to hold yourself back from achieving your biggest dreams? What you’re doing is like balancing on a fence. Momentum wants to pull you in one direction, while your fears or doubts are pulling you in another direction. It takes tremendous endurance to stay balanced between two powerful forces like that!
Since you’re already working hard at staying stationary, it is a simple matter to shift your focus and redirect your energies to begin moving forward.
How?
It seems like a major leap to move from where you are to where you’d rather be, but it’s important to note that there is probably just ONE THING that stands between you and your ability to move forward. This one thing will be different for everyone, but review the most common reasons below and see if they apply to you:
Fear:
You’ve gotten it into your head that something bad will happen if you begin working toward what you want. You have a feeling of dread or doom, and you feel sure that you’ll somehow screw it up or fail. You don’t want to experience that feeling of failure, so you choose to not try at all.
What should you fear more: taking a chance and possibly failing, or never trying at all and creating a certain life of mediocrity? When you look at it like that, you’ll see that fear of failure is ridiculous. It seems overwhelming at times, yes. But it means nothing in the big scheme of things. So you may stumble and fall a few times. Big deal! Just dust yourself off and get moving again! It may sound overly simple for me to say that, but once you experience it for yourself, you realize how silly a fear of failure really is.
Doubt:
Even if you don’t fear failure, you might lack confidence in your own ability to overcome challenges and create the life you want. You might even doubt your ability to know the right path for you.
The only way to know for sure is to try! If you want to make positive changes in your life, you HAVE to be willing to believe that you have what it takes – even a tiny bit. You have to believe that even if you don’t initially have what it takes to succeed, you can work on developing it. Do you think that ANY successful person was just born that way? Of course not! Each and every one of them had to go through a learning curve, and continually push themselves past their limits. They had to start small and take one step at a time, honing their skills, developing new ones, and further strengthening those too. You are no different; you have the same exact ability to do what they have done.
Laziness:
Let’s be honest; sometimes we all feel lazy. We like taking the easy way out as often as possible. We’d rather sit and stare at a television screen or computer screen because we don’t have to think too hard, or work too hard. We can just collapse into a vegetative state and not have to overcome challenges or face our fears. Unfortunately, this creates a set of consequences all its own, some of which you may be experiencing right now.
Let me share a secret with you: you can still have your periods of laziness AND excel beyond your wildest dreams! It’s all about balance.
I wouldn’t be serving you at all if I told you to avoid the activities you enjoy. You NEED those things. You need to have a fun social life, and plenty of downtime to relax and recharge. But you also need MORE than those things. You need a sense of pride and accomplishment about what you do. You need the contrast of working hard, followed by playing hard, followed by resting easy.
So, what’s stopping you from moving forward? Is it fear, doubt, laziness, or something else? Identify your inner blockage, and then take steps to blast it the heck out of your life. Stop working hard at mediocrity, and start working hard at success. Let your inner momentum carry you forward toward the life you truly want – and deserve.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Never Try to Do Anything
The difference between try and triumph is a little umph. - Author Unknown
“Try” is a word that should be removed from the English language (except perhaps for legal proceedings). Think about the last thing you “tried” to do. How did that work out for you? If you’re like most people, when you “try” to do something, that means you are giving less than your full effort to it. You are simply testing the waters, dipping a toe in to determine the temperature, but ready to yank your foot back out at the slightest hint of discomfort. How boring! If you’re going to do something, why not just DO it? If you’re not going to do something, then don’t bother “trying”.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t proceed with caution or take the time to plan and prepare for a goal properly. This isn’t about throwing caution to the winds; it’s about the intensity of energy you put forth when you take action on something. Imagine saying that you’ll “try to breathe” today. What image does that put in your mind? It makes me think that something will be interfering with your ability to breathe naturally, which means you may or may not be successful at breathing. Trying is pointless. You either do, or you do not. Now, just because you put your full effort into something doesn’t always mean that your results will be what you expect. Sometimes you may need to do something dozens of times before you’ll get the result you want. But holding back your effort will definitely ensure less satisfactory results.
“Trying” is for those people who doubt their ability to do something. It means they would like a successful outcome but highly doubt they’ll get one. When you go into something with such a negative focus, it’s no surprise it doesn’t work out very well. Instead, make it your mission to simply DO it - whatever you are planning to do. If the outcome is less than you hoped for, do it again. Or find another way to do it. But never “try” to do anything. It’s a complete waste of your time and energy.
“Try” is a word that should be removed from the English language (except perhaps for legal proceedings). Think about the last thing you “tried” to do. How did that work out for you? If you’re like most people, when you “try” to do something, that means you are giving less than your full effort to it. You are simply testing the waters, dipping a toe in to determine the temperature, but ready to yank your foot back out at the slightest hint of discomfort. How boring! If you’re going to do something, why not just DO it? If you’re not going to do something, then don’t bother “trying”.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t proceed with caution or take the time to plan and prepare for a goal properly. This isn’t about throwing caution to the winds; it’s about the intensity of energy you put forth when you take action on something. Imagine saying that you’ll “try to breathe” today. What image does that put in your mind? It makes me think that something will be interfering with your ability to breathe naturally, which means you may or may not be successful at breathing. Trying is pointless. You either do, or you do not. Now, just because you put your full effort into something doesn’t always mean that your results will be what you expect. Sometimes you may need to do something dozens of times before you’ll get the result you want. But holding back your effort will definitely ensure less satisfactory results.
“Trying” is for those people who doubt their ability to do something. It means they would like a successful outcome but highly doubt they’ll get one. When you go into something with such a negative focus, it’s no surprise it doesn’t work out very well. Instead, make it your mission to simply DO it - whatever you are planning to do. If the outcome is less than you hoped for, do it again. Or find another way to do it. But never “try” to do anything. It’s a complete waste of your time and energy.
Is Your Mind a Landfill?
Every one should keep a mental wastepaper basket and the older he grows the more things he will consign to it - torn up to irrecoverable tatters. - Samuel Butler
It’s amazing how much junk we tend to absorb into our minds and allow it stay there, festering and tainting everything we do. Most of have minds that are cluttered with unproductive thoughts like negative comments by friends or family members, derogatory messages we’ve fed to ourselves, and restrictive messages received by society. All of this trash will continue to degrade our performance unless we clear it out occasionally.
Take a few moments to think about the types of thoughts and beliefs you hold about yourself and your life. Are you still operating under your father’s assertion that you’ll never amount to anything? Are you still hearing the voice of your third grade teacher who said you wouldn’t go far in life because of your inability to pay attention in class? Make a list of all the beliefs and limitations that others have placed upon you. Also be sure to include the limitations that you have placed upon yourself. You know the ones that claim you can’t do such-and-such because you’re just not good at it, or the things you’ve tried but didn’t have much success with the first time around, so now you believe you’ll never be successful at it. When you’ve written down everything you can think of – read the list over once more, and then BURN it.
Everything on that list was simply a perception, whether yours or someone else’s. Perceptions are flexible and subject to change. You now have a clean slate upon which to write your own empowering perceptions. You can start by writing the opposite of the beliefs and messages you just burned, or you can come up with entirely new ones. What truths do you want to apply to your life? That you’re wealthy? That you’re successful and confident? That you are eager to try new things? Whatever you want to do in life, add it to the list and then get moving on it! Periodically, repeat this clearing-out exercise to be sure you’re not reabsorbing restrictive messages again. Keep your mind free of unproductive trash and debris, and you’ll have plenty of room to store the thoughts you actually WANT to keep in there.
It’s amazing how much junk we tend to absorb into our minds and allow it stay there, festering and tainting everything we do. Most of have minds that are cluttered with unproductive thoughts like negative comments by friends or family members, derogatory messages we’ve fed to ourselves, and restrictive messages received by society. All of this trash will continue to degrade our performance unless we clear it out occasionally.
Take a few moments to think about the types of thoughts and beliefs you hold about yourself and your life. Are you still operating under your father’s assertion that you’ll never amount to anything? Are you still hearing the voice of your third grade teacher who said you wouldn’t go far in life because of your inability to pay attention in class? Make a list of all the beliefs and limitations that others have placed upon you. Also be sure to include the limitations that you have placed upon yourself. You know the ones that claim you can’t do such-and-such because you’re just not good at it, or the things you’ve tried but didn’t have much success with the first time around, so now you believe you’ll never be successful at it. When you’ve written down everything you can think of – read the list over once more, and then BURN it.
Everything on that list was simply a perception, whether yours or someone else’s. Perceptions are flexible and subject to change. You now have a clean slate upon which to write your own empowering perceptions. You can start by writing the opposite of the beliefs and messages you just burned, or you can come up with entirely new ones. What truths do you want to apply to your life? That you’re wealthy? That you’re successful and confident? That you are eager to try new things? Whatever you want to do in life, add it to the list and then get moving on it! Periodically, repeat this clearing-out exercise to be sure you’re not reabsorbing restrictive messages again. Keep your mind free of unproductive trash and debris, and you’ll have plenty of room to store the thoughts you actually WANT to keep in there.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Your Purpose is to Be Uniquely You
Whatever you are be a good one. - Abraham Lincoln
Are you still waiting for a sign from the heavens to figure out what to do with your life? Are you hoping that the sky will crack open and a loud booming voice will tell you exactly what to do, where to go, what to focus on? If only it were that easy. There is nothing wrong with believing in a pre-destined life purpose, but it does tend to keep you feeling powerless and adrift if you can’t figure out what it should be. Not only is the uncertainty maddening, there is also the fear that you might choose wrong and set a cataclysmic chain of events into motion. That might sound overly dramatic, but it can certainly feel that way at times! What most of us overlook is the thrill that can come from choosing our own purpose.
Whether you’re more comfortable thinking you have a distinct destiny to fulfill or you think of it in terms of having the free will to choose your path, you can still be proactive in choosing your own life mission. Think about it this way: your life purpose will be something that makes you feel passionate and fulfilled. It is designed that way on purpose – so you “know” what you’re supposed to be doing! Your purpose is to do that which is most aligned with who you are, and uses your natural talents and abilities to their fullest extent. Only you can say what that is exactly, and you may not have the foggiest clue right now.
So begin finding out! If you already know what makes you feel inspired and purposeful, do it more often. Find a way to share it with others. If you don’t know what your passions are, go exploring and find them. Try new things and see if any of them resonate with you. The activities themselves don’t really matter except that they should make you feel wonderful and provide some kind of benefit for the world around you. Think about your existing talents, skills and passions, constantly work on developing new ones – and find a way to share them with others. Then, no matter what else you do, you are definitely fulfilling a grand purpose here on earth. Is it “your” purpose? It is if you choose it to be!
Are you still waiting for a sign from the heavens to figure out what to do with your life? Are you hoping that the sky will crack open and a loud booming voice will tell you exactly what to do, where to go, what to focus on? If only it were that easy. There is nothing wrong with believing in a pre-destined life purpose, but it does tend to keep you feeling powerless and adrift if you can’t figure out what it should be. Not only is the uncertainty maddening, there is also the fear that you might choose wrong and set a cataclysmic chain of events into motion. That might sound overly dramatic, but it can certainly feel that way at times! What most of us overlook is the thrill that can come from choosing our own purpose.
Whether you’re more comfortable thinking you have a distinct destiny to fulfill or you think of it in terms of having the free will to choose your path, you can still be proactive in choosing your own life mission. Think about it this way: your life purpose will be something that makes you feel passionate and fulfilled. It is designed that way on purpose – so you “know” what you’re supposed to be doing! Your purpose is to do that which is most aligned with who you are, and uses your natural talents and abilities to their fullest extent. Only you can say what that is exactly, and you may not have the foggiest clue right now.
So begin finding out! If you already know what makes you feel inspired and purposeful, do it more often. Find a way to share it with others. If you don’t know what your passions are, go exploring and find them. Try new things and see if any of them resonate with you. The activities themselves don’t really matter except that they should make you feel wonderful and provide some kind of benefit for the world around you. Think about your existing talents, skills and passions, constantly work on developing new ones – and find a way to share them with others. Then, no matter what else you do, you are definitely fulfilling a grand purpose here on earth. Is it “your” purpose? It is if you choose it to be!
Stop Fooling Yourself
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you're the easiest person to fool. - Richard Feynman
Our minds are labyrinths of illusion and deception, and it is way too easy to fool ourselves sometimes. Perhaps you’ve had an experience where you were certain that something was the truth, and later discovered you were wrong. When the real truth was exposed, you practically slapped yourself in the forehead because you couldn’t believe you missed it! We’ve all had experiences like that from time to time. That’s because perception is very individual, and our minds are designed to see only what we want to see. This can be helpful in certain circumstances, but incredibly damaging in others.
What are some of the ways you’ve fooled yourself in the past - or are you still fooling yourself now? Are you telling yourself that you’re working hard on your goals when in fact you are just spinning your wheels and trying to stay busy? Are you convinced that you don’t have as much chance for opportunity as others do? Are you telling yourself that the obstacle you face is too big, too imposing to overcome? Are you promising yourself that someday soon you’ll begin taking action to get what you want? Are you waiting until your fear diminishes, your confidence grows, or someone in your life gives you the green light? No matter what you are telling yourself, be willing to question whether it’s really the “truth” or not. Just because it seems to be so, doesn’t mean it is.
One of the best practices you can adopt is the process of inner reflection and honesty. Learn how to see through your perceptions and discern which ones are serving you and which ones are holding you back. Learn how to get in touch with your intuition and use the signals it sends (like gut feelings, inner knowing, and warnings about bad choices) to guide your decision-making. Stop fooling yourself into believing things that keep you from expressing your greatness, and start pushing yourself to believe things that add to your character and grow your potential. Take off the rose-colored glasses and begin assessing yourself and your habits with brutal honesty. Only then will you understand the quickest way to release your potential, figure out the right path for you, and determine the right actions to get you there.
Our minds are labyrinths of illusion and deception, and it is way too easy to fool ourselves sometimes. Perhaps you’ve had an experience where you were certain that something was the truth, and later discovered you were wrong. When the real truth was exposed, you practically slapped yourself in the forehead because you couldn’t believe you missed it! We’ve all had experiences like that from time to time. That’s because perception is very individual, and our minds are designed to see only what we want to see. This can be helpful in certain circumstances, but incredibly damaging in others.
What are some of the ways you’ve fooled yourself in the past - or are you still fooling yourself now? Are you telling yourself that you’re working hard on your goals when in fact you are just spinning your wheels and trying to stay busy? Are you convinced that you don’t have as much chance for opportunity as others do? Are you telling yourself that the obstacle you face is too big, too imposing to overcome? Are you promising yourself that someday soon you’ll begin taking action to get what you want? Are you waiting until your fear diminishes, your confidence grows, or someone in your life gives you the green light? No matter what you are telling yourself, be willing to question whether it’s really the “truth” or not. Just because it seems to be so, doesn’t mean it is.
One of the best practices you can adopt is the process of inner reflection and honesty. Learn how to see through your perceptions and discern which ones are serving you and which ones are holding you back. Learn how to get in touch with your intuition and use the signals it sends (like gut feelings, inner knowing, and warnings about bad choices) to guide your decision-making. Stop fooling yourself into believing things that keep you from expressing your greatness, and start pushing yourself to believe things that add to your character and grow your potential. Take off the rose-colored glasses and begin assessing yourself and your habits with brutal honesty. Only then will you understand the quickest way to release your potential, figure out the right path for you, and determine the right actions to get you there.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Make The Journey the Reward
One of my favorite quotes is from Jim Rohn.
He says, “Become a millionaire for what it makes of you to achieve it.”
For a long time I held negative beliefs about money.
I thought that people with money were greedy.
That money was the root of all evil.
That money changes you, makes you a different person.
It wasn’t till I acknowledged those beliefs and instilled new ones that I stopped sabotaging my efforts to create success.
Jim Rohn’s quote was the catalyst for that change.
It was an entirely different view of becoming a millionaire.
It focused on the process, the journey.
It focused on all the things you have to become – the ways you have to be MORE – GROW – become BETTER.
Wow!
What an amazing concept!
The reward is not the money.
The reward is all the lives you’ve touched along the way.
The integrity you’ve kept.
The obstacles you’ve overcome.
The knowledge you’ve obtained.
The friends you’ve made.
Get started on your journey
Get excited about your journey!
The destination will take care of itself.
He says, “Become a millionaire for what it makes of you to achieve it.”
For a long time I held negative beliefs about money.
I thought that people with money were greedy.
That money was the root of all evil.
That money changes you, makes you a different person.
It wasn’t till I acknowledged those beliefs and instilled new ones that I stopped sabotaging my efforts to create success.
Jim Rohn’s quote was the catalyst for that change.
It was an entirely different view of becoming a millionaire.
It focused on the process, the journey.
It focused on all the things you have to become – the ways you have to be MORE – GROW – become BETTER.
Wow!
What an amazing concept!
The reward is not the money.
The reward is all the lives you’ve touched along the way.
The integrity you’ve kept.
The obstacles you’ve overcome.
The knowledge you’ve obtained.
The friends you’ve made.
Get started on your journey
Get excited about your journey!
The destination will take care of itself.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
How do I find my inner self when I have no time?
That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?
How do you tap into your true passion when you’re so busy just trying to get through everything that needs to be done in the day?
Work, kids, spouse, appointments, housework, yardwork, clubs, socializing – the list seems endless!
Do you know what every millionaire will tell you is the key to getting rich?
Pay yourself first.
Put money away at the first of each month – otherwise there won’t be any left at the end of the month.
That’s great, you may be thinking – but what’s that got to do with my problem - How do I find my inner self when I have no time?
It’s got everything to do with your problem!!
You HAVE to pay yourself first – with TIME – your most precious resource.
How can you expect to be able to give to others when you don’t first give to yourself?
Think of it this way…
Imagine your best friend calling, saying she has an emergency – that she needs you right now!
What would you do?
You’d find the time wouldn’t you?
Guess what?
This is an emergency!!
Your life is waiting!
Your dreams are waiting!!
I believe in you, in the power of your dreams.
You CAN do it!! You can find the time.
Get started TODAY!!
How do you tap into your true passion when you’re so busy just trying to get through everything that needs to be done in the day?
Work, kids, spouse, appointments, housework, yardwork, clubs, socializing – the list seems endless!
Do you know what every millionaire will tell you is the key to getting rich?
Pay yourself first.
Put money away at the first of each month – otherwise there won’t be any left at the end of the month.
That’s great, you may be thinking – but what’s that got to do with my problem - How do I find my inner self when I have no time?
It’s got everything to do with your problem!!
You HAVE to pay yourself first – with TIME – your most precious resource.
How can you expect to be able to give to others when you don’t first give to yourself?
Think of it this way…
Imagine your best friend calling, saying she has an emergency – that she needs you right now!
What would you do?
You’d find the time wouldn’t you?
Guess what?
This is an emergency!!
Your life is waiting!
Your dreams are waiting!!
I believe in you, in the power of your dreams.
You CAN do it!! You can find the time.
Get started TODAY!!
If It's Not One Thing....
It’s another
Murphy’s Law
With my luck….
At the rate I’m going…
I never realized how negative my language was till I started REALLY listening to what I was saying.
Language is so POWRFUL.
“Language exerts hidden power, like a moon on the tides” ~ Rita Mae Browns
What are you saying to yourself that is limiting your potential?
Stopping you from being the amazing person you truly are?
Try changing your language and see what kind of effect it has on your life.
I think you’ll be surprised at the power your language holds.
Murphy’s Law
With my luck….
At the rate I’m going…
I never realized how negative my language was till I started REALLY listening to what I was saying.
Language is so POWRFUL.
“Language exerts hidden power, like a moon on the tides” ~ Rita Mae Browns
What are you saying to yourself that is limiting your potential?
Stopping you from being the amazing person you truly are?
Try changing your language and see what kind of effect it has on your life.
I think you’ll be surprised at the power your language holds.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Finding Your Inner Self or Your Center
Your inner self or your center is the core of your being. It is the essence of who you are, what your purpose is, where your unique talents and gifts lie.
If you find your inner self or your center, you’ve found the key to your happiness.
Have you ever seen someone who was bursting with energy? Who just seemed ALIVE and radiating this magnetism that seemed to envelop you everytime you were in their presence?
That person was tapped into their inner self or center.
Now, how would you like to become that person? To be excited when the day begins, to have prosperity and fulfillment flow into YOUR life?
It’s not that hard.
The answer you’re looking for is within you RIGHT NOW.
The key is to start a dialogue with yourself.
Find quiet time alone to be with your thoughts.
Listen to yourself just as you would a friend.
Ask yourself probing questions.
Keep a journal of your interactions.
Your true passions, your unique gifts, are bubbling up just under the surface.
Take time TODAY to explore your inner self and you’ll find the key to your personal fulfillment.
To Your Success,
April
If you find your inner self or your center, you’ve found the key to your happiness.
Have you ever seen someone who was bursting with energy? Who just seemed ALIVE and radiating this magnetism that seemed to envelop you everytime you were in their presence?
That person was tapped into their inner self or center.
Now, how would you like to become that person? To be excited when the day begins, to have prosperity and fulfillment flow into YOUR life?
It’s not that hard.
The answer you’re looking for is within you RIGHT NOW.
The key is to start a dialogue with yourself.
Find quiet time alone to be with your thoughts.
Listen to yourself just as you would a friend.
Ask yourself probing questions.
Keep a journal of your interactions.
Your true passions, your unique gifts, are bubbling up just under the surface.
Take time TODAY to explore your inner self and you’ll find the key to your personal fulfillment.
To Your Success,
April
Decision Time
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of.” Benjamin Franklin
Decision Time
Every day you make decisions
Even when you choose not to make a decision, that IS a decision.
Right now, there is something in your life that is not fulfilling.
You’re not where you want to be.
Why not make the DECISION to move your life forward?
To take the next step to make that change you’ve been thinking about.
Decide
Commit
Act.
Small steps lead to great accomplishments.
What small step can you take today to get you closer to your goal?
What about tomorrow?
How about the next day?
Find 30 minutes to devote to your future.
You are the product of your minutes.
“How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives” Annie Dillard
Get started making yours BETTER today!
To Your Success,
April
Decision Time
Every day you make decisions
Even when you choose not to make a decision, that IS a decision.
Right now, there is something in your life that is not fulfilling.
You’re not where you want to be.
Why not make the DECISION to move your life forward?
To take the next step to make that change you’ve been thinking about.
Decide
Commit
Act.
Small steps lead to great accomplishments.
What small step can you take today to get you closer to your goal?
What about tomorrow?
How about the next day?
Find 30 minutes to devote to your future.
You are the product of your minutes.
“How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives” Annie Dillard
Get started making yours BETTER today!
To Your Success,
April
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)