Tuesday, 31 December 2019
What's Your Excuse for Not Being Successful in Life?
Excuses! Excuses! When we fail to do something we are expected to do, we almost always have an excuse for it. However, if we analyze it closely, an excuse is a self-destructive alibi for having failed to do something, especially when it involves attaining a goal. Instead of trying to persevere in finding ways to continue achieving a goal, some of us resort to excuses.
Even a handicap cannot be used as an excuse. Many handicapped but determined people have become achievers and champions. Instead of using a handicap as an excuse, let us turn it into an asset. Let us explore this further.
A handicap need not be a reason for failure. On the contrary, a handicap can be a reason for success. People with a handicap always have an offsetting strength that allows them to overcome problems better than others.
A person with a handicap has one obsession - to lead a normal life. Depending on the handicap, a person would prefer to be as independent as possible. So he struggles and finds ways to overcome his impediment. When he is able to achieve his goal, this raises his self-esteem. In turn, he inspires others.
Everybody has handicaps in varying forms and degree. That is why; it requires effort and determination to overcome them. Handicaps can either be physical, financial, or emotional. And they can either be real or imagined.
Whenever we look at a handicap, we almost always look on the negative side only. It's about time we take a look at the positive side of it. The positive side may be the difficult side, but it's the one worth looking into. It's the side that is going to lead us to excel in life.
If you think your handicap is physical, like having a weak body, you can counteract this through proper diet and training exercises. As long as the physical parts of your body are intact and mobile, there's no reason why you cannot make it strong and useful. Why? Even those without a leg (for example) can be made to walk or run normally. With the advancement of science, artificial legs can help a handicap function with great mobility.
It your handicap is financial, then the more reason you have to rise above your present status. And if your financial status limits your educational attainment to improve your life, the school is not the only place to learn. Certainly, there are help centers to get you started even from zero level. Once you are initially warmed up with the basics of an education, the rest is up to you. Make use of libraries. Once you are educationally equipped, use your brain and come up with creative ideas to improve your life.
If you are emotionally disturbed with negative thoughts, it is like you are sitting on a chair with wobbling legs. Try sitting on a chair with sturdy legs; meaning, look at the bright, positive side of life. Put aside negativity and start thinking positively. The only one who can stop you is yourself.
If your handicap is a combination of any of the physical, financial, or emotional type, congratulations. You should strive more to overcome them, because a double layer of perseverance results to more than double the achievement. Where the odds are greater, the prize gets much bigger. After all the efforts you have exerted, the prize of success shall be a well-deserved one.
So what's your excuse for not being successful?
Even a handicap cannot be used as an excuse. Many handicapped but determined people have become achievers and champions. Instead of using a handicap as an excuse, let us turn it into an asset. Let us explore this further.
A handicap need not be a reason for failure. On the contrary, a handicap can be a reason for success. People with a handicap always have an offsetting strength that allows them to overcome problems better than others.
A person with a handicap has one obsession - to lead a normal life. Depending on the handicap, a person would prefer to be as independent as possible. So he struggles and finds ways to overcome his impediment. When he is able to achieve his goal, this raises his self-esteem. In turn, he inspires others.
Everybody has handicaps in varying forms and degree. That is why; it requires effort and determination to overcome them. Handicaps can either be physical, financial, or emotional. And they can either be real or imagined.
Whenever we look at a handicap, we almost always look on the negative side only. It's about time we take a look at the positive side of it. The positive side may be the difficult side, but it's the one worth looking into. It's the side that is going to lead us to excel in life.
If you think your handicap is physical, like having a weak body, you can counteract this through proper diet and training exercises. As long as the physical parts of your body are intact and mobile, there's no reason why you cannot make it strong and useful. Why? Even those without a leg (for example) can be made to walk or run normally. With the advancement of science, artificial legs can help a handicap function with great mobility.
It your handicap is financial, then the more reason you have to rise above your present status. And if your financial status limits your educational attainment to improve your life, the school is not the only place to learn. Certainly, there are help centers to get you started even from zero level. Once you are initially warmed up with the basics of an education, the rest is up to you. Make use of libraries. Once you are educationally equipped, use your brain and come up with creative ideas to improve your life.
If you are emotionally disturbed with negative thoughts, it is like you are sitting on a chair with wobbling legs. Try sitting on a chair with sturdy legs; meaning, look at the bright, positive side of life. Put aside negativity and start thinking positively. The only one who can stop you is yourself.
If your handicap is a combination of any of the physical, financial, or emotional type, congratulations. You should strive more to overcome them, because a double layer of perseverance results to more than double the achievement. Where the odds are greater, the prize gets much bigger. After all the efforts you have exerted, the prize of success shall be a well-deserved one.
So what's your excuse for not being successful?
Monday, 30 December 2019
10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection
Ouch! Whether it's feedback we've asked for, an unsolicited remark called out from the audience or a simple "no" result of an audition or submission process, criticism and rejection are a huge part of our lives as creative artists.
Sometimes we're so fearful of being criticized or rejected that we keep our creativity bottled up and don't let it out.
Other times we constantly adapt what we create, focusing only on the "market" and what they seem to be liking or disliking this week. Then we end up feeling like we're not truly expressing our creative impulses.
10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection
1. Be Open. You may be hoping for a specific reaction or response to your work, or a specific result of an audition, gallery submission, performance or contest entry. If you've done your best and you're rejected or criticized, you might feel that you've "failed", and it's probably hard to see anything positive about the situation. Try to be open to the possibility that this "failure" is actually leading you to something else, usually better than what you thought you wanted. As I read once in Cheryl Richardson's newsletter, "Any rejection is God's protection".
2. Be Consistent. Keep going, doing the little things every day that keep you creative and that keep you connected to other artists and to your customers. The dramatic moments and big wins and losses will come and go. Have a steady routine you can keep coming back to, and this will help to place any criticism or rejection into perspective. Today is a new day, another day you get to be an artist.
3. Be Focused. Keep your end goal in mind, and always be mindful of why you're doing what you're doing. That will help you focus on the big picture and not get tripped up by each bump in the road along the way.
4. Be Resilient. Remember that your sense of self-worth comes from inside of you. When you're able to be confident in yourself regardless of the feedback you get from external sources, you're able to bounce back much more easily from any negative feedback that you may get.
5. Be Positive. Focus your attention on the positive and you'll attract more of it. This is the premise of the "law of attraction", and I've certainly seen it work in my own life. Hear the positive feedback you receive and replay it over in your mind whenever you need to.
6. Be Clear. Approach constructive feedback with an accurate perspective, not muddled with thoughts from your own inner critic. Take it as a helpful tool for your own growth and remember that ultimately the only opinion that matters is your own - because you need to be happy with what you're producing.
7. Be Grateful. Be gracious to your critics, accept all of the feedback you receive, sit quietly and let it sink in. Be grateful to be actively creating - to have gotten past the fear and other roadblocks. Be grateful for the opportunity to have your work seen and heard. Some never get the chance.
8. Be Responsive. Decide consciously what to do with feedback before responding, instead of reacting with the first thought or words that come to mind.
9. Be Selective. Once you've decided what to do the feedback you've received, be selective and willing to let go of the hurtful feedback. This usually doesn't have anything to do with you anyway; it's a reflection of that person's own happiness, state of mind and comfort with themselves.
10. Be Loving. Be loving of your critic and ESPECIALLY of yourself. Plan some self-care treats for the day of the audition or submission. Regardless of the outcome, you deserve it!
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Sometimes we're so fearful of being criticized or rejected that we keep our creativity bottled up and don't let it out.
Other times we constantly adapt what we create, focusing only on the "market" and what they seem to be liking or disliking this week. Then we end up feeling like we're not truly expressing our creative impulses.
10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection
1. Be Open. You may be hoping for a specific reaction or response to your work, or a specific result of an audition, gallery submission, performance or contest entry. If you've done your best and you're rejected or criticized, you might feel that you've "failed", and it's probably hard to see anything positive about the situation. Try to be open to the possibility that this "failure" is actually leading you to something else, usually better than what you thought you wanted. As I read once in Cheryl Richardson's newsletter, "Any rejection is God's protection".
2. Be Consistent. Keep going, doing the little things every day that keep you creative and that keep you connected to other artists and to your customers. The dramatic moments and big wins and losses will come and go. Have a steady routine you can keep coming back to, and this will help to place any criticism or rejection into perspective. Today is a new day, another day you get to be an artist.
3. Be Focused. Keep your end goal in mind, and always be mindful of why you're doing what you're doing. That will help you focus on the big picture and not get tripped up by each bump in the road along the way.
4. Be Resilient. Remember that your sense of self-worth comes from inside of you. When you're able to be confident in yourself regardless of the feedback you get from external sources, you're able to bounce back much more easily from any negative feedback that you may get.
5. Be Positive. Focus your attention on the positive and you'll attract more of it. This is the premise of the "law of attraction", and I've certainly seen it work in my own life. Hear the positive feedback you receive and replay it over in your mind whenever you need to.
6. Be Clear. Approach constructive feedback with an accurate perspective, not muddled with thoughts from your own inner critic. Take it as a helpful tool for your own growth and remember that ultimately the only opinion that matters is your own - because you need to be happy with what you're producing.
7. Be Grateful. Be gracious to your critics, accept all of the feedback you receive, sit quietly and let it sink in. Be grateful to be actively creating - to have gotten past the fear and other roadblocks. Be grateful for the opportunity to have your work seen and heard. Some never get the chance.
8. Be Responsive. Decide consciously what to do with feedback before responding, instead of reacting with the first thought or words that come to mind.
9. Be Selective. Once you've decided what to do the feedback you've received, be selective and willing to let go of the hurtful feedback. This usually doesn't have anything to do with you anyway; it's a reflection of that person's own happiness, state of mind and comfort with themselves.
10. Be Loving. Be loving of your critic and ESPECIALLY of yourself. Plan some self-care treats for the day of the audition or submission. Regardless of the outcome, you deserve it!
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Sunday, 29 December 2019
Could you use a 'Stop Doing' list?
One of the tried and true organization and time-management tools is the trusty old "to do" list. I was trained to diligently put one together at the end of the day for the following day, and whatever tasks I failed to complete, to carry it forward. This system has worked well in helping me prioritize and focus. But I have also heard many of my colleagues complain about having too much on their list, and feeling very discouraged and overwhelmed by the sheer number of items on their "To Do" list. To help ease the overwhelm, I want to introduce the concept of the "Stop Doing" list.
Some of these are completely legitimate concerns. However, before you dismiss the idea, consider the following:
So, after considering these tough questions, add your delegated task to your "Stop Doing" list as well and send them elsewhere, and I guarantee you will feel better.
I first read about the "Stop Doing" list in "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. He stated that one of the commonalities of the companies who were able to propel themselves from being just good to being great is that they all looked at what they were currently doing that they needed to Stop Doing. I am implementing this idea in a slightly different way, but I think a "Stop Doing" list can actually help your productivity and effectiveness.
So how do you decide what goes on your "Stop Doing" list? Here's what I suggest you do.
For the next week or two, each time you work on your "to do" list (and if you are not using one currently, I strongly recommend you start), or blocking off time for specific tasks in you planner, ask yourself this question: "does this task add value or generate positive results for me and my organization?" If the answer is no, it should go right on top of your "Stop Doing" list.
If the answer is "yes", ask yourself a second question: "am I the best person to do this task?" The first question tells you whether you can eliminate a task. This question tells you whether you can delegate a task. I know for solo-business people, you automatically think that you have no one to delegate any tasks to. But actually, that might not necessarily be true. Today, there is a whole network of virtual assistants who can handle a myriad of administrative work for you. Some accept work by the hour, and some accept work by the project. If you are interested in this resource, check out www.assistu.com
For some people, you may have to then overcome your resistance to delegating. I've heard many of the reasons. Do these sound familiar?
- "By the time I explain it to someone else, I could have done it myself."
- "I can't trust somebody else to do it right."
- "It costs too much money."
- Is the task repetitive so that the up-front time investment to train someone is actually worth it 3 months down the road?
- Are you the most qualified person to complete the task, or could someone else do it in less time with less effort for better results?
- If you didn't have to do the task, what would you choose to spend that time on, and what impact will that have on your business, or your life?
Even though I wrote this article for people struggling with overload at work, the same approach can be applied to create a "Stop Doing" list for home. Think of the possibilities - you can delegate laundry, and cooking, and yard work, and cleaning, and what else?
Seriously, the current state of our lives is that there is generally too much to do and not enough time. So, go through this exercise at least once and see what you can shed from your "to do" list. If you like the results, then establish a routine and do this every 6 months or a year. The point is that you want to spend your time on high impact tasks, and work that you enjoy.
Thursday, 19 December 2019
How To Take Action And Live Without Regrets
What someone could find is that when they look back on their day or their week, there are a number of things that they wished they had done. They could spend hours wondering why they didn't do something and beat themselves up in the process.
The months are then going to go by and one is not only going to punish themselves for what they haven't done and to feel bad, they are also going to miss out on a lot of things. For their life to change, they will need to do something about what is going on.
An Important Question
One thing that they can do, to make themselves do something, is to ask themselves how they will feel that evening or the day after if they don't do something. So one will have the need to do something and, in this moment, they can focus on how they will probably feel if they let this moment pass them by.
During this time, one will be getting in touch with all the pain that they have experienced before when they haven't seized the moment and taken action. If they can really connect to this pain, they are unlikely to feel very good.
A Powerful Force
One is not facing this pain just because they want to feel bad; they are facing it so that they can see that as fearful/nervous as they might feel at this moment in time, they will feel a lot worse if they don't take action. How they feel right now will pass, but if they don't go for it, they will have a critical voice and a lot of emotional pain to sit with.
If they do connect with this pain, they may find that they are actually able to take action. The pain of having to face up to another thing that they regret not doing could just be too much for them to handle.
Another Element
What one can also think about during this time is that no matter how emotionally charged and real their experience is, it won't be long until what they are going through will just be another memory. Therefore, regardless of what takes place, it will most likely be something that will soon fade away.
To really understand this, they could think about the other moments in their life where they felt uncomfortable that are just memories now. At the time, these moments would have been all encompassing but now, they could just seem like experiences that hardly had an impact on them.
Final Thoughts
What this illustrates is how important the mind is when it comes to taking action. By asking the right questions and reflecting on how painful it will be not to do something, one can get themselves moving and make taking action a habit.
One could start on the things that make them feel uncomfortable but not too uncomfortable. Starting small can allow them to see that getting uncomfortable is not going to end their life and make it easier for them to face things that make them feel really uncomfortable.
Teacher, prolific writer, author, and consultant, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over two thousand, three hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.
To find out more go to - http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk/
Feel free to join the Facebook Group -
https://www.facebook.com/OliverJRCooper
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10220501
The months are then going to go by and one is not only going to punish themselves for what they haven't done and to feel bad, they are also going to miss out on a lot of things. For their life to change, they will need to do something about what is going on.
An Important Question
One thing that they can do, to make themselves do something, is to ask themselves how they will feel that evening or the day after if they don't do something. So one will have the need to do something and, in this moment, they can focus on how they will probably feel if they let this moment pass them by.
During this time, one will be getting in touch with all the pain that they have experienced before when they haven't seized the moment and taken action. If they can really connect to this pain, they are unlikely to feel very good.
A Powerful Force
One is not facing this pain just because they want to feel bad; they are facing it so that they can see that as fearful/nervous as they might feel at this moment in time, they will feel a lot worse if they don't take action. How they feel right now will pass, but if they don't go for it, they will have a critical voice and a lot of emotional pain to sit with.
If they do connect with this pain, they may find that they are actually able to take action. The pain of having to face up to another thing that they regret not doing could just be too much for them to handle.
Another Element
What one can also think about during this time is that no matter how emotionally charged and real their experience is, it won't be long until what they are going through will just be another memory. Therefore, regardless of what takes place, it will most likely be something that will soon fade away.
To really understand this, they could think about the other moments in their life where they felt uncomfortable that are just memories now. At the time, these moments would have been all encompassing but now, they could just seem like experiences that hardly had an impact on them.
Final Thoughts
What this illustrates is how important the mind is when it comes to taking action. By asking the right questions and reflecting on how painful it will be not to do something, one can get themselves moving and make taking action a habit.
One could start on the things that make them feel uncomfortable but not too uncomfortable. Starting small can allow them to see that getting uncomfortable is not going to end their life and make it easier for them to face things that make them feel really uncomfortable.
Teacher, prolific writer, author, and consultant, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over two thousand, three hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.
To find out more go to - http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk/
Feel free to join the Facebook Group -
https://www.facebook.com/OliverJRCooper
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10220501
Tuesday, 17 December 2019
Do The Things That Empower You
Just as someone can need to eat certain things to function at their best, they can also need to do certain things to be able to feel empowered. As a result of this, if they don't do certain things, they won't be able to feel strong and alive.
However, if someone has felt disempowered for a while or for their whole life, they might not realise this. How they experience life will have just become the norm, meaning that they could be completely consumed by what is taking place
Stepping Back
For this to change, it will be essential for them to mentally detach from what is going on and to reflect on their life. This will allow them to see that there is a reason why they are experiencing life in this way.
If one has felt empowered in the past, it could soon become clear why they have ended up in this position. There could be a number of things that they used to do that they no longer do.
For Example
Many years ago, they may have gone to the gym, spent time with friends, travelled and taken part in other hobbies, for instance. But after something took place in their life, they might have stopped doing these things.
Although it would have seemed as though these were just things that they did, these would have been things that allowed them to feel connected, strong and alive. Therefore, not doing them would have wakened them.
The Reason
As to why they stopped doing certain things, it could be due to a number of reasons. Perhaps one experienced a loss or had a breakup, something that would have had a big impact on them.
What took place would have disrupted them, taking away their desire to do the things that they would have usually done. And, by not doing these things, they would have gradually felt worse over time.
Another Experience
On the other hand, if one has always felt disempowered, there is the chance that they have rarely done things that empower them. For someone like this, they will need to try different things out to be able to see what works for them.
Naturally, this is not going to take place overnight, but it will happen as long as they keep going. If there is something that they have wanted to try for a while, they should give it a go.
Final Thoughts
What this comes down to is that one is an interdependent human being; they are not their own island. So if they don't do the things that they need to do, they will be a watered-down version of themselves.
Consequently, the strength and energy that they need to live a fulfilling life won't be available. Providing one takes the first step and keeps going, they may find that it doesn't take long for their life to change.
Teacher, prolific writer, author, and consultant, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over two thousand, three hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10220045
However, if someone has felt disempowered for a while or for their whole life, they might not realise this. How they experience life will have just become the norm, meaning that they could be completely consumed by what is taking place
Stepping Back
For this to change, it will be essential for them to mentally detach from what is going on and to reflect on their life. This will allow them to see that there is a reason why they are experiencing life in this way.
If one has felt empowered in the past, it could soon become clear why they have ended up in this position. There could be a number of things that they used to do that they no longer do.
For Example
Many years ago, they may have gone to the gym, spent time with friends, travelled and taken part in other hobbies, for instance. But after something took place in their life, they might have stopped doing these things.
Although it would have seemed as though these were just things that they did, these would have been things that allowed them to feel connected, strong and alive. Therefore, not doing them would have wakened them.
The Reason
As to why they stopped doing certain things, it could be due to a number of reasons. Perhaps one experienced a loss or had a breakup, something that would have had a big impact on them.
What took place would have disrupted them, taking away their desire to do the things that they would have usually done. And, by not doing these things, they would have gradually felt worse over time.
Another Experience
On the other hand, if one has always felt disempowered, there is the chance that they have rarely done things that empower them. For someone like this, they will need to try different things out to be able to see what works for them.
Naturally, this is not going to take place overnight, but it will happen as long as they keep going. If there is something that they have wanted to try for a while, they should give it a go.
Final Thoughts
What this comes down to is that one is an interdependent human being; they are not their own island. So if they don't do the things that they need to do, they will be a watered-down version of themselves.
Consequently, the strength and energy that they need to live a fulfilling life won't be available. Providing one takes the first step and keeps going, they may find that it doesn't take long for their life to change.
Teacher, prolific writer, author, and consultant, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over two thousand, three hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10220045
Saturday, 14 December 2019
3 Simple Meditation Techniques to Boost your Concentration
Meditation is ‘to mediate.’ It is a process where you start to acknowledge the thoughts of your subconscious mind and focus on your inner musings, giving them a sense of direction.
To understand your wavering thought process, your mind should be quiet, at peace and not cluttered with random thoughts. With the help of meditation, you do not fight a battle with your mind, but you attempt to become one with it. When you have one leg in the future and one in the past, you lose the essence of the present. Once you master in how to do meditation you can concentrate on the present rather than dwell on whatever has passed or whatever is yet to come.
To understand your wavering thought process, your mind should be quiet, at peace and not cluttered with random thoughts. With the help of meditation, you do not fight a battle with your mind, but you attempt to become one with it. When you have one leg in the future and one in the past, you lose the essence of the present. Once you master in how to do meditation you can concentrate on the present rather than dwell on whatever has passed or whatever is yet to come.
Our brain never sleeps. We are constantly thinking about one thing or another and keeps worrying about different things. This surely has an adverse effect on our health and does not allow you to focus on specific tasks. Meditation or ‘Dhyana’ can help to increase your concentration power. This blog will give you an overview on how to boost your concentration with some basic meditation techniques. You will see how it works like a magic potion for your mind, leaving a dash of energy, calmness, and peace.
When it comes to meditation, there is no right or wrong time; it typically depends on your lifestyle. Some folks try to practice ‘Transcendental Meditation’, where they meditate twice in a day (morning and evening). You only need to set an appropriate time when you can be one with yourself. For regular meditation practices, it is suggested that you fix a routine so as to attain better results and enjoy an insightful experience.
Basic Guidelines for mediation
Let’s begin with simple techniques on how to meditate and enhance your concentration level. Keep in mind; you won’t be able to achieve positive results just by meditating once. You need to be regular in this process to see the changes take effect. Here are some basic guidelines for mediation:
- Sit in a quiet place and comfortable place. Until you are physically comfortable, it would be difficult to achieve the required levels of concentration.
- It’s always better that you meditate in light, comfortable clothes. You should consider wearing clothes that are breathable, soft and flexible. E.g. cotton
- Make sure that there is no noise disturbance around you. Why not keep your mobile in silent mode? You can take your important calls later. Right now, your focus must only be you.
- Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Inhale deep breaths and exhale slowly. Without any hurry, try to focus your thoughts on your breathing.
- Relax and try not to think about anything else for that moment. Try not to move and release all the negative energies from your body.
3 Simple Meditation techniques
Once you have built the concentration, the time arises to practice the technique of meditation. Here are three simple meditation techniques you can use to calm your mind and reconnect with your inner being:
‘Zazen’ or ‘The Breathing Concentration’
Ancient sadhus and Buddhist monks used this technique to contemplate the nature of existence. As philosophical as it sounds, it is pretty simple since you only concentrate on your breathing. Choose a comfortable spot yourself, sit with your legs folded, and keep your spine straight. Start to inhale and exhale deep breaths and do not let your mind wander to any random thought.
Vipassana or ‘The Concentration to Sensations’
Through this meditation technique, you tend to concentrate your entire attention on the body’s physical sensation. Considered to be a method for enlightenment, the main aim of this technique is to remove the drape of inconsistency from the mind and look at the things as they really are. By Vipassana, you are able to achieve clarity of thought and perceive the things in their proper manner.
Tratak or ‘Concentration to the Candle Flame’
Practice this exercise in a dark room to achieve the maximum benefits. Light a candle and keep your eyes focused on the flame. By Tratak, individuals can enhance their memory power and increase their attention span. The method proves amazing when it comes to blocking distracting thoughts. Begin by concentrating on the flame of the candle, and then slowly close your eyes and try to picture the exact position of the flame.
The best way to achieve the maximum benefits would be practicing the meditation techniques in front of a certified yoga professional. You can visit the website for some of the best yoga classes in Gurgaon, and get in touch with a trained expert to know more. You can also begin by enrolling yourself in a basic meditation class so that you learn the exact technique to meditate and achieve a mentally calm and stable state.
http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/motivational/3-simple-meditation-techniques-to-boost-your-concentration.html
http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/motivational/3-simple-meditation-techniques-to-boost-your-concentration.html
Thursday, 12 December 2019
Do Your Best and Let It Be Enough - Countering Your Perfectionistic Self-Talk
Preparation and focus are key skills to develop and implement when it comes to finding time to do your best. And here's something that may surprise you: Doing your best also involves knowing when to let go. That's because your time and energy are too precious (and too limited) to waste them tying yourself in perfectionistic knots!
As Psychologist Harriet B. Braiker noted, " Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing."
So, how often have you experienced that discouraging frustration? How often have you pursued the ideal of getting something 'just right,' only to keep missing the mark by a little bit? And how often have you watched your day slip away while you adjusted and tweaked and reached for that ideal again and again?
Sound familiar? It's not an unusual experience - especially for energetic, motivated, high achievers. And the good news is, there's another way to go about this! You can keep perfectionism from tying you in knots, taking over your life, and bringing your productivity to a halt.
The way to outsmart your perfectionism is by learning to recognize the 3 Key Perfectionist Messages that can help you recognize the tell-tale signs of perfectionism. Then you can respond to those undermining messages directly and powerfully, winning back your time by making different choices!
Untying perfectionism's knots doesn't just help you find time. It also builds your confidence and expands your sense of what is possible. Talk about life-enhancing changes! So, let's explore those tell-tale messages:
Perfectionist Message #1: 'I'm waiting for the right time to get started.' This raises the question of what exactly is the 'right time'? And how do you recognize it when it arrives? Ask yourself some questions about this, and see what you discover. Do you know the 'right time' has arrived when:
You have more free time?
You feel inspired?
Your friend returns the books she borrowed - the ones you need to read before you can start your project?
There are no distractions?
There are no other demands on your time?
You have enough time?
What these examples all have in common is that, in each, you give yourself the message that something additional is needed before you can begin. This disempowers you and keeps you stuck.
Time-Wise Response: 'The right time is right now.' You untie the perfectionistic knot by letting yourself know that NOW is the time that you have to work with. Whatever task you have to do, schedule the specific start time for yourself and, when the time comes, start in. Don't think about it; just begin. Once you take the first step, the next will follow.
Perfectionist Message #2: 'It is not perfect yet.' If you often say some version of this to yourself, follow-up with these questions:
What would perfect look like?
Is it attainable?
Are you anticipating criticism?
If so, from whom?
Are your expectations realistic or inflated?
Whose eyes are you seeing this through?
Time-Wise Response: 'Strive for excellence rather than perfection.' Being able to really take this in is one of the biggest steps you can take toward untying perfectionistic knots. Striving for excellence becomes such a relief - and so energizing! When you let go of perfectionism you can begin to experience the pleasure of accomplishment. As your self-confidence and sense of satisfaction in your work grow, the illusion of perfection becomes less and less alluring.
Perfectionist Message #3: 'I know I can make it better.' This is a place where endless time can be wasted. How often have you found yourself tweaking something until you couldn't even see it clearly anymore? As William Shakespeare wrote (in King Lear) "Striving to better, oft we mar what's well."
Time-Wise Response: 'I will ask for feedback.' This response powerfully unties perfectionistic knots in 3 important ways:
Others come to your work with fresh eyes, so if there truly is something to be made 'better' they will probably see it.
Letting this go and choosing to delegate it frees up your time so you can move on to your next task.
As you open to others' feedback you are inviting their responses. This diminishes fear of criticism and is a very powerful antidote to perfectionism.
When you think about it, perfectionism is a lot like an internal bully who ties you in knots and saps your initiative, energy, and productivity. When you face that bully and untie those perfectionistic knots, you are freeing yourself and changing your life in a very fundamental and exciting way.
So, celebrate every step as you stop placing impossible demands on yourself and start finding time for more success and satisfaction in your life!
And to move toward your Heart-Based Time Success, sign up for our free gift, The Finding Time Success Kit, which includes "The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Simple, Sequential Steps to Find More Time and Recharge Your Energy!" Using a workbook format this powerful and practical time template helps you progress beyond disappointment and frustration. Discover that 24 hours really are enough!
Just click this link to get started: http://thetimeschool.com/Success
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paula_Eder/40911
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10149420
As Psychologist Harriet B. Braiker noted, " Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing."
So, how often have you experienced that discouraging frustration? How often have you pursued the ideal of getting something 'just right,' only to keep missing the mark by a little bit? And how often have you watched your day slip away while you adjusted and tweaked and reached for that ideal again and again?
Sound familiar? It's not an unusual experience - especially for energetic, motivated, high achievers. And the good news is, there's another way to go about this! You can keep perfectionism from tying you in knots, taking over your life, and bringing your productivity to a halt.
The way to outsmart your perfectionism is by learning to recognize the 3 Key Perfectionist Messages that can help you recognize the tell-tale signs of perfectionism. Then you can respond to those undermining messages directly and powerfully, winning back your time by making different choices!
Untying perfectionism's knots doesn't just help you find time. It also builds your confidence and expands your sense of what is possible. Talk about life-enhancing changes! So, let's explore those tell-tale messages:
Perfectionist Message #1: 'I'm waiting for the right time to get started.' This raises the question of what exactly is the 'right time'? And how do you recognize it when it arrives? Ask yourself some questions about this, and see what you discover. Do you know the 'right time' has arrived when:
You have more free time?
You feel inspired?
Your friend returns the books she borrowed - the ones you need to read before you can start your project?
There are no distractions?
There are no other demands on your time?
You have enough time?
What these examples all have in common is that, in each, you give yourself the message that something additional is needed before you can begin. This disempowers you and keeps you stuck.
Time-Wise Response: 'The right time is right now.' You untie the perfectionistic knot by letting yourself know that NOW is the time that you have to work with. Whatever task you have to do, schedule the specific start time for yourself and, when the time comes, start in. Don't think about it; just begin. Once you take the first step, the next will follow.
Perfectionist Message #2: 'It is not perfect yet.' If you often say some version of this to yourself, follow-up with these questions:
What would perfect look like?
Is it attainable?
Are you anticipating criticism?
If so, from whom?
Are your expectations realistic or inflated?
Whose eyes are you seeing this through?
Time-Wise Response: 'Strive for excellence rather than perfection.' Being able to really take this in is one of the biggest steps you can take toward untying perfectionistic knots. Striving for excellence becomes such a relief - and so energizing! When you let go of perfectionism you can begin to experience the pleasure of accomplishment. As your self-confidence and sense of satisfaction in your work grow, the illusion of perfection becomes less and less alluring.
Perfectionist Message #3: 'I know I can make it better.' This is a place where endless time can be wasted. How often have you found yourself tweaking something until you couldn't even see it clearly anymore? As William Shakespeare wrote (in King Lear) "Striving to better, oft we mar what's well."
Time-Wise Response: 'I will ask for feedback.' This response powerfully unties perfectionistic knots in 3 important ways:
Others come to your work with fresh eyes, so if there truly is something to be made 'better' they will probably see it.
Letting this go and choosing to delegate it frees up your time so you can move on to your next task.
As you open to others' feedback you are inviting their responses. This diminishes fear of criticism and is a very powerful antidote to perfectionism.
When you think about it, perfectionism is a lot like an internal bully who ties you in knots and saps your initiative, energy, and productivity. When you face that bully and untie those perfectionistic knots, you are freeing yourself and changing your life in a very fundamental and exciting way.
So, celebrate every step as you stop placing impossible demands on yourself and start finding time for more success and satisfaction in your life!
And to move toward your Heart-Based Time Success, sign up for our free gift, The Finding Time Success Kit, which includes "The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Simple, Sequential Steps to Find More Time and Recharge Your Energy!" Using a workbook format this powerful and practical time template helps you progress beyond disappointment and frustration. Discover that 24 hours really are enough!
Just click this link to get started: http://thetimeschool.com/Success
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paula_Eder/40911
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10149420
Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Stop Wishing For A Better Life And Embrace The One You Have Now
The Grass Is Rarely Greener On The Other Side
Let's be truthfully honest: Are you happy with your life or do you wish things were different? For example, how would a life coach evaluate it? Would they make adjustments here and there or give you their sign of approval? Sometimes we allow our negative emotions to get in the way of what life is trying to tell us. We might see our friends or those on Instagram living wonderful lives and wish ours was the same. Though we are not looking at things objectively but judging it on appearances alone. No matter how successful, rich or happy you are, there will always be challenges and no one is immune from them. Does it make sense that wishing for a better life doesn't bring it into existence? It requires picking apart what is not working and attending to those details consistently.
It's no secret, everyone wants a better life. But as you may or may not know, the grass is rarely greener on the other side. It may appear that way but as soon as you attract better circumstances there will be new problems and challenges to overcome. For example, those who are single might lament their loneliness and want to be in an intimate relationship to compensate for this. However, some become disheartened when the relationship doesn't meet their expectations and they wish they were single once more. The same is true with money. When we're struggling financially, we wish for an endless supply of money, however, if we become financially successful, there are other challenges that arise. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting we shouldn't become financially free. Though, we ought to develop the right mindset so irrespective of whether we are rich or poor, single or in a relationship, we will be happy nonetheless. How do you feel about this? Can you learn to be happy with your current circumstances knowing your life is a work in progress?
Work Through Your Problems
The key is understanding that life is a constantly evolving process. Sometimes we will experience difficulties, pain and struggles, while other times we will experience joy, elation and success. Winston Churchill said it perfectly: "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." He knew that to succeed, we mustn't lose enthusiasm despite our difficulties. Challenges help us sharpen the saw of our character. Whilst it may not be clear to us at the time, our pain and troubles can help us get clear on living the life we dreamed of. I have encountered many challenges throughout my life. There were moments where I thought I was doomed for failure. Not that I didn't want to succeed, though every time I tried, I failed miserably. I thought life was against me and I compared myself to others who were succeeding. But those lessons contributed to my personal development. What you believe to be deleterious may be the greatest thing for your personal growth. It is said: The obstacle is the way.
Is this making sense? Can you appreciate what happens outside of you reflects what is taking place within you? I'm certain you have many questions brewing inside your mind. I invite you to write them down in a journal, if you use one. If you don't, it would be a good time to start because journaling is an effective way to observe the theme of your life. This is the first thing I recommend to new coaching clients when we work together. Journaling is a powerful tool to become aware of our thoughts and work through our difficulties. It requires observing what is not working in your life and coming up with ways to overcome those challenges. You literally become better at working through solutions instead of falling into despair. Even if we like to compare ourselves to others, we realise it is futile because the assessment is unproductive. We ought to become our own motivator, counselor if we wish to conquer our challenges.
As we work through our problems, life will not seem as bleak as we think. It only looks that way because we get stuck in a certain way of living and can't find our way out. We are like mice in a lab experiment, spinning on a never-ending wheel with no exit. The keys are in your hand and they lie in your ability to find solutions to your problems. With this in mind, I'd like you to take one pressing issue in your life and journal five to eight solutions. They might not look impressive upon first glance, however, revisit them over the coming days and narrow them down to three. When you are satisfied, pick one and act on it. Note in your journal whether it helps you or if it requires more steps. It is when we stop wishing for a better life and embrace the one we are given, that we appreciate a better life has been staring us in the face all along.
Do you want to lead a remarkable life? Are you committed to taking action despite your fears and doubts? If so, download your FREE copy of my eBook NAVIGATE LIFE right now, and start your amazing journey of greatness today!
Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Mentors - Having and Being One
Dr. Ben Carson rose from humble beginnings as the son of a single parent to become a trailblazing brain surgeon. Many of us remember the time when he separated congenital twins who were not expected to live or have watched his life story in the movie "Gifted Hands". His cutting-edge methods and strong commitment that involved over 15,000 surgeries were recognized with numerous awards as well as respect and gratitude from those who crossed his path.
Dr. Carson's whole life was not only dedicated to developing expertise in his field of practice but also to serve others. After retiring from his medical career, he unsuccessfully ran for President of the United States and now holds the position as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
This week I finished reading the book "A Doctor in the House" in which Dr. Carson's wife, Candy provides an insider view of her husband's personal and medical activities.
She described a method that he developed over the years for solving any dilemma that involves asking himself the following four questions:
- What is the best thing that will happen if I do this?
- What's the worst thing that happens if I do this?
- What's the best thing that will happen if I don't do this?
- What's the worst thing that happens if I don't do this?
Four simple questions that can be used as a template for decision-making in all situations!
Because Dr. Carson and his wife wanted to encourage others to reach potential, they created the Carson Scholarship Fund and regularly spoke to various groups even when his work week was extremely demanding.
On June 9, 2015 he was a guest speaker at the inaugural graduation of the Ben Carson High School for Science and Medicine in Detroit, the city where he started his life and journey. During his speech he cautioned students to beware of naysayers and described a situation where his medical school advisor had told him that he wasn't cut out to be a doctor.
Dr. Caron stated: "When someone tells you something like that, remember that they are speaking from their experience, about what they can't do. They really can't speak for what you can do. Only you have control over what you can do."
Over the years, I have been blessed with many good mentors. Some of them were personal friends or acquaintances. Some were ones who I observed from a distance. And some were found in the stories published in the media and books.
We don't need to adopt everything that others say or do but it is important to sift through the information and capture the nuggets of wisdom that will move you forward with your life and goals.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://lindahancock.com
From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10202500
Monday, 9 December 2019
Using Daily Positive Affirmations To Create Health, Wealth And Beauty
You've read all the self-help books: Attitude is everything! Change your perspective! Have a positive outlook! Can these ideas really change your future? And if so, how? In my childhood and adolescence, I was skeptical. Let's face it, if my brother was born without being able to walk, how could my attitude or outlook change anything?
As I got older I continued to reflect on a youth seemingly filled with disappointments and doubts. In talking to my friends and family, I realized I wasn't alone, we've all experienced them. Then, I started taking a good, long look at myself and my feelings. I realized that my deepest feelings were the ones guiding me forward, challenging me to reach to the depth of what I was able to feel - happy or sad. In the end, these feelings allowed me to explore all dimensions of my being.
Why do I share this with you? Through all the laughs, disappointment and sorrow I've learned: We can use the power of our feelings to build a stronger, happier, positive life. I've also discovered a secret way to facilitate this process: affirmations.
How Affirmations Work
As you may or may not know, affirmations are simple exercises that can tap you into this positive, creative part of yourself. It's the place that's free from your ego (you know it: the ego is the leaky tire in constant need of being filled from outside sources).
Affirmations are different. They allow you to reveal the secret, powerful, depths of yourself and care for your being by affirming what is there. Do you feel a calling toward a particular feeling you have been having? Is there something in your life that you need and desire to manifest? If you can use your mind's eye to creatively visualize, you can bring forward all that you desire.
How? Simply affirm that it is already here.
Creating Affirmations
The key to the success of an affirmation is its potential or the potentiality of your creative thought. The laws of the universe will respond then not to your asking for what you wish, but rather your affirmation that it is already here. Look at these statements:
I am beautiful! I am healthy! I am kind and loving!
Thus, it takes the ideas of creative visualization one step further. Affirmations take a picture from your thought to create a statement about this thought in a verbal format. Take some time to affirm what is in your heart. What do you wish for? Choose an affirming statement to focus on and place your attention on it:
I am abundant! I am loved!
Applying An Affirmation
Make the laws of affirmation work in your life. Let's focus for a moment on the "word" aspect of this equation. The words I am are a very powerful tool. "I AM" tells the universe to put the wheels of energy in motion. These two words trigger the universe and let it know you are ready to receive your prayer. Can you see the importance of this process?
I AM Beautiful!
Therefore, if I write this statement on an index card and place it in my pocket or write it several times in my notebook then say it out loud to myself, what happens? Soon I manifest beauty! I begin to believe what I have written and translate it into a feeling.
Waiting The Results In Peace
Remember the statement: "All good things come to those who wait?" This statement is of great importance here. Once you have affirmed and have written your intentions, the action needs to come from you. Think: If I already have what I wish, what would I do? For example: If I am trying to manifest "beautiful" - I need to ask myself: Am I wearing beautiful clothing? Am I honoring my body with exercise and nutrition? If not, I need to take a long look at how I am treating myself. If I wasn't feeling beautiful before, perhaps treating myself better is what I need to heal.
Take a moment today to focus on what you need to heal. Continue to apply the affirmation process. I think you will find it to be a powerful tool. Remember: Affirm, take action and "wait the results in peace." For it is as one of my favorite spiritual councilors, Iyanla Vanzant, says: "You don't get what you ask for, you get what you believe."
Laura M. Turner, M.S., CHHP is an author and certified holistic health practitioner through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Want to know how to use these principles to heal your life? Let Laura show you. You'll find all the answers in her latest book: Spiritual Fitness The 7-Steps to Living Well: [http://www.beauty-and-body.com/Spiritual_Fitness_Info.htm] Visit Today to learn more and subscribe to her free eZine.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/26274
Friday, 6 December 2019
What's Your Excuse for Not Being Successful in Life?
Excuses! Excuses! When we fail to do something we are expected to do, we almost always have an excuse for it. However, if we analyze it closely, an excuse is a self-destructive alibi for having failed to do something, especially when it involves attaining a goal. Instead of trying to persevere in finding ways to continue achieving a goal, some of us resort to excuses.
Even a handicap cannot be used as an excuse. Many handicapped but determined people have become achievers and champions. Instead of using a handicap as an excuse, let us turn it into an asset. Let us explore this further.
A handicap need not be a reason for failure. On the contrary, a handicap can be a reason for success. People with a handicap always have an offsetting strength that allows them to overcome problems better than others.
A person with a handicap has one obsession - to lead a normal life. Depending on the handicap, a person would prefer to be as independent as possible. So he struggles and finds ways to overcome his impediment. When he is able to achieve his goal, this raises his self-esteem. In turn, he inspires others.
Everybody has handicaps in varying forms and degree. That is why; it requires effort and determination to overcome them. Handicaps can either be physical, financial, or emotional. And they can either be real or imagined.
Whenever we look at a handicap, we almost always look on the negative side only. It's about time we take a look at the positive side of it. The positive side may be the difficult side, but it's the one worth looking into. It's the side that is going to lead us to excel in life.
If you think your handicap is physical, like having a weak body, you can counteract this through proper diet and training exercises. As long as the physical parts of your body are intact and mobile, there's no reason why you cannot make it strong and useful. Why? Even those without a leg (for example) can be made to walk or run normally. With the advancement of science, artificial legs can help a handicap function with great mobility.
It your handicap is financial, then the more reason you have to rise above your present status. And if your financial status limits your educational attainment to improve your life, the school is not the only place to learn. Certainly, there are help centers to get you started even from zero level. Once you are initially warmed up with the basics of an education, the rest is up to you. Make use of libraries. Once you are educationally equipped, use your brain and come up with creative ideas to improve your life.
If you are emotionally disturbed with negative thoughts, it is like you are sitting on a chair with wobbling legs. Try sitting on a chair with sturdy legs; meaning, look at the bright, positive side of life. Put aside negativity and start thinking positively. The only one who can stop you is yourself.
If your handicap is a combination of any of the physical, financial, or emotional type, congratulations. You should strive more to overcome them, because a double layer of perseverance results to more than double the achievement. Where the odds are greater, the prize gets much bigger. After all the efforts you have exerted, the prize of success shall be a well-deserved one.
So what's your excuse for not being successful?
Even a handicap cannot be used as an excuse. Many handicapped but determined people have become achievers and champions. Instead of using a handicap as an excuse, let us turn it into an asset. Let us explore this further.
A handicap need not be a reason for failure. On the contrary, a handicap can be a reason for success. People with a handicap always have an offsetting strength that allows them to overcome problems better than others.
A person with a handicap has one obsession - to lead a normal life. Depending on the handicap, a person would prefer to be as independent as possible. So he struggles and finds ways to overcome his impediment. When he is able to achieve his goal, this raises his self-esteem. In turn, he inspires others.
Everybody has handicaps in varying forms and degree. That is why; it requires effort and determination to overcome them. Handicaps can either be physical, financial, or emotional. And they can either be real or imagined.
Whenever we look at a handicap, we almost always look on the negative side only. It's about time we take a look at the positive side of it. The positive side may be the difficult side, but it's the one worth looking into. It's the side that is going to lead us to excel in life.
If you think your handicap is physical, like having a weak body, you can counteract this through proper diet and training exercises. As long as the physical parts of your body are intact and mobile, there's no reason why you cannot make it strong and useful. Why? Even those without a leg (for example) can be made to walk or run normally. With the advancement of science, artificial legs can help a handicap function with great mobility.
It your handicap is financial, then the more reason you have to rise above your present status. And if your financial status limits your educational attainment to improve your life, the school is not the only place to learn. Certainly, there are help centers to get you started even from zero level. Once you are initially warmed up with the basics of an education, the rest is up to you. Make use of libraries. Once you are educationally equipped, use your brain and come up with creative ideas to improve your life.
If you are emotionally disturbed with negative thoughts, it is like you are sitting on a chair with wobbling legs. Try sitting on a chair with sturdy legs; meaning, look at the bright, positive side of life. Put aside negativity and start thinking positively. The only one who can stop you is yourself.
If your handicap is a combination of any of the physical, financial, or emotional type, congratulations. You should strive more to overcome them, because a double layer of perseverance results to more than double the achievement. Where the odds are greater, the prize gets much bigger. After all the efforts you have exerted, the prize of success shall be a well-deserved one.
So what's your excuse for not being successful?
Wednesday, 4 December 2019
You Choose to React or Respond
Choices abound. Sometimes choices confound us, while at other times, certain choices are rather obvious. Any way you approach the subject, choices present opportunities to either excel or hinder. As human beings, we were endowed by our Creator with the power of choice. It is one of the factors that differentiate persons from animals. Some people make these choices or decisions more easily than others.
Each day, we must decide how we will spend our precious twenty four hours and deal with all that the world presents to us. We choose how we will be affected by both everyday occurrences and those that are much more extraordinary. Whether consciously or unconsciously, we choose to either react or respond. These are not the same, for one is negative and one is positive. Which we choose may have a significant impact on our life and possibly those close to us.
Reacting to outside influences, usually beyond our control is generally a negative choice. Reacting implies that we have given charge of the situation to someone or something else. We surrender our input and any control in the matter. We are now at the mercy of the situation and are forced to be in reaction mode where we are constantly dodging bullets and expending great amounts of energy just to stay afloat. In reacting to a situation, we do not anticipate that which is to come because we are too busy handling the present. The future then surprises us and the whole mess begins again.
Responding to a situation is a positive choice. It is the opposite of reacting. It is proactive and anticipates that which is yet to come. Responding is preceded by thought and often prayer. In responding, we take charge and have command over how the situation impacts us. We also have control over how it affects us internally. We decide upon the level of personal impact.
Our lives, families, careers and other everyday activities and interests are operating at breakneck speeds and appear at times to be accelerating. One thing is for certain, the old days of sitting around on the front porch each evening listening to Mother Nature are gone for many of us. The pace of life in Mayberry, as healthy and tranquil as it would appear, is unfortunately a thing of the past. We live life on the fast track.
A major news weekly magazine is currently featuring material devoted to stress and distress in our lives and their effects on our cardiovascular health. Although not totally surprising, this information is disturbing. How did we ever get to this point? Witness the number of television commercials and magazine advertisements for gastric distress, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, headaches and other ailments that are increasing in frequency. There are millions of prescriptions written each day for these medical conditions, most of which will find their roots in internalized stress and distress.
People spend many hours of their lives worrying. Worry is a senseless, energy robbing activity that has engulfed many. No one has ever benefited from worry, yet countless people engage in it. Worry is the opposite of faith. Worry is negative while faith is positive. There is no mystery here. Many books have been written on the subject. The conclusions are the same: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and "Stop Worrying and Start Living" are among the many themes presented. Good advice indeed.
Most areas of life present us with choices. We must choose either to respond or react to circumstances. We choose whether or not to worry. Learn to be aware that you have a choice in these matters. Learn that there are ways that you can deal with everything either positively or negatively. Learn that your choices may influence your very health, both physical and mental. Learn that there will be costs associated with poor choices, worrying and negativity in general. These may include social, monetary, peace of mind and time costs. Certainly, the total cost associated with negative choices is too high.
Learn that positively responding to circumstances in life will significantly reduce or eliminate worry and contribute to your overall good health and well being. Find joy in life. Be happy.
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Rid Yourself Of Fear, Fearlessly!
What a silly thing to say, don't you think? Not necessarily when you know the power of creating a single photographic collage.
Col-lage n. An artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface, often with unifying lines and color.
7 Powerful Uses Of Creating Collages:
1. To break up the mental image that is fear. Collage images that represent fear and see what happens to your state of mind. Very surprising and powerful!
2. To create a visual of your dream life to magnetically attract your dreams into your life. This is sometimes referred to as Treasure Mapping.
3. To break through your conscious riddence of your inner self. Have you trained yourself to be an "adult" and put away the passions of your childhood? Your collage can reveal the part of yourself that you have forgotten if that is your purpose.
4. To communicate a negative feeling you have to someone who cannot understand your verbal message. Our minds think in pictures. Through pictures we can convey what language cannot.
5. Purely as a work of art. Collage art can be very expressive and beautiful. It offers an opportunity for the uses of all sorts of multi-media such as texture objects, metal, paper, etc.
6. To reveal a thought pattern you may not realize about yourself. As you share your collage with others for comments, they may notice something in yours that you hadn't realized. Suddenly you notice something about yourself without the other person even noticing your discovery.
7. To create a visual journal of your life and passions in life. Bring your favorite life experiences forward photographically. Remember photographs used as collage have overlapping edges. They are not lined up in straight rows like in a photograph album. It's a great technique to use in creating a scrapbook.
All in all creating collages is a powerful tool to use when you are stuck in any way. Fear will leave you stuck. Break it up with a collage of photographs that represent fear.
Stuck for ideas? Create a collage of photographs that represent stagnation. You will be very surprised.
Wondering where you can easily get the pictures for your collage?
Here are some ways:
1. Use outdated magazines and tear out pages that seem to represent your theme or feeling.
2. Use family photographs
3. Join a clip art website for a week and look through all their photographs and save the ones that stand out for you.
4. Use scraps of paper, fabric, various texture items like flower petals, grass, leaves, etc.
5. Spend the day at Lake Pawtuckaway in Nottingham, New Hampshire Oct 15 and create your collage with all materials supplied for a day! See http://www.discoveryourinnersoul.com
Collages can be made from any group of objects or photographs you desire. They can be for almost any purpose.
Create a collage and see what happens!
Setting Goals: Your only recipe for success
Goals are like signposts. As long as you can see these signposts, then you know you are heading in the right direction. When you set goals, you eliminate the possibility veering off the track and derailing into failure. When a train veers of the rails, the entire locomotive is derailed. Looking at the rails, one does not see anything special in them; just a solid mass of steel. But that simple mass of steel ensures that the train remains on course and that everyone on board reaches their destination safely and on time.
Goals are like rails. Without them, our claim to success will never find expression in reality. Just as a train must stay on the rails to complete the journey, our dreams, our ambitions, and our desires must find expression in goals that are clear, realistic and timely.
When we have well articulated and clearly defined goals, the journey towards success becomes lighter, even less tiring. This is because goals help us to (i) stay focused (ii) be realistic in our expectations (iii) gauge our progress (iv) avoid being overwhelmed (v) re-evaluate and redefine our strategy to ensure conformity and consistency with our objectives.
Stay focused
John Maxwell says "obstacles are the things you see when you take your eyes off the goal". How true! Every time you take your eyes away from the goal at hand, you will surely wander off into troubled waters. If you get to a point in your success journey where you can't see your goal, you are definitely headed into failure territory.
Goals constantly remind us that there are tasks that need to be done, and within a particular time frame, for us to make progress. Without goals reminding us of where we are and what we are supposed to do to get where we ought to be, we will only be working hard and achieving nothing. Hard work, as Maxwell says, "is the accumulation of easy tasks you did not do when you should have". The easy routine tasks that we sometimes ignore feeds into our success. Failure to perform these tasks will translate into failure.
Goals must be realistic
Goals must be firmly established upon unflinching reality. If you want to go to New York and you only have ten dollars, it would be foolhardy to start packing for your journey. The reality is that boarding a plane to New York from Nairobi costs more than 10 dollars! But you say, "I have faith in God"? Well, faith is not foolish, neither is it an emotion. No amount of goose bumps or frenzied hysteria will take you to New York on ten dollars. Be real or you will miss the deal.
Goals are yardsticks
Like yardsticks, goals help us gauge or measure our progress, or lack of it. Without goals constantly reminding us where we are and what we should be doing to get where we ought to be, we will be running wild. No amount of sticking our head deep into the sand will help us achieve success. We must stick it out to the end by daily attaining the goals we have set for ourselves. This can only be done if today's tasks are 'done' today!
To post pone to tomorrow today's task will only mean one thing: a clog up tasks. The result is that we end up breaking our backs trying to accomplish both yesterday's and today's tasks; resulting in sloppy and unfinished tasks.
Goals help us avoid overwhelm
To de-stress our lives, we need to learn how to work smart by finishing our daily tasks on schedule.
This is important if we are to avoid being overwhelmed by tasks carried over from yesterday.
One of the leading causes of burnout and depression is the failure to tackle simple tasks on time. As tasks pile up one after another, we end up having to work overtime and sometimes overnight; pushing our body to limits it was not designed to go. To avoid overwhelm, learn to decongest your life by doing what must be done today, today! However if you want to work hard and up stressing yourself, go ahead and let the tasks accumulate.
Goals help us re-strategize
Finally we need to re-evaluate and redefine our strategy to ensure conformity with our objectives. Strategies help us achieve our goals faster. However, some of the strategies we use are sometimes rendered obsolete by the passage of time. When this happens, it is important to redefine or tweak them a little.
Strategies must always remain relevant and in line with the desired goals. When they become irrelevant or obsolete, they should be discarded and new ones invented.
Strategies help us save time by crowding out irrelevant tasks; those that only take up our time but which do not feed into in to our goals. Strategies also help us to concentrate on priority tasks; those that are crucial to the attainment of our goals.
Monday, 2 December 2019
The Truth About Luck and How To Get It
I spoke to a close friend today and he said something that greatly disturbed me. Okay it made me so upset I had to write this while thinking, "What the F@#K?!"
I was looking at a catalogue of upcoming seminars given by some VERY famous and successful people.
I called one of my best friends and asked him if he wanted to go. His answer, to say the least Pissed Me Off!
He said, "Oh, I'm not gonna' waste my money on that seminar, that guy just got lucky. Dude, some people just get lucky!" Well, why did he have to go and say that to ME of all people???
I said, "Listen Bro, I came from being a homeless runaway to pretty successful AND I'm marrying the girl of my dreams!" Am I lucky? Nope, I've earned everything I own and have. I'm no millionaire but I WILL be.
The person he didn't want to go see at the seminar is a VERY successful, famous, multi-millionaire entrepreneur. In addition to that the fee was pennies in comparison to the opportunity to meet and speak to this man. When I say pennies, I mean that people spend more on a pair of jeans!
So, what IS the truth about luck?
The truth is that luck is not a random event and it can be proven many different ways. Many very successful entrepreneurs may say that they were lucky but, they as well as I, know better.
What many call luck is really what I call a statistical occurrence that only happens after a specific action is taken. This action may not have been a calculated decision but it is an action towards a desired result.
I recently wrote about this in an article called How Thoughts Creates Matter that mentions how "Luck Like" things tend to happen when people take action towards a specific goal or objective.
Even Lottery winners are not lucky. They took a specific action in choosing or not choosing the numbers on their ticket and then purchasing it. Their prize is a statistical occurrence. Nothing more or nothing less.
The real truth of the matter is that most people get so caught up in their own distaste for their own "self determined" situation that they believe that there is some unanswerable reason for the success of others.
Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. Thomas Jefferson
To get "Lucky" here's what you should do.
Decide what you want, create a plan to get it and then DO IT!
Once you keep at it for a while success, Ahem, I mean Luck will occur. Not only that but Uhhh, Luck will begin to snowball in your favor!
Then and only then my friend, you will have the privilege of being called a "Lucky" person who "Just Got plain Lucky!"
The Importance of Taking Action
Enjoying a good life is common to us all. We all want the same things, good health, positive relationships, fulfilling career, and enough money to live comfortably. But, there are others that want a life of abundance and prosperity. These are the ones that have dreams of doing great things, having successful businesses, visiting interesting places, meeting extraordinary people, and having the ability to help others financially.
If you are going to enjoy a life of abundance and prosperity it will require some action. This should be obvious. But, sometimes the obvious is frequently overlooked.
You didn't get to where you are today without taking some sort of action. So, it makes sense that if you have a vision in your head about where you would like to be in the future, it will require action.
The problem with most people is, even though they may have the knowledge to do some particular thing, they lack putting the necessary action behind that knowledge.
We often hear that "knowledge is power." But, knowledge is really only power in reserve. It remains useless if it's not tapped into by applying action. Knowledge that is not put to action remains just knowledge in your head and provides no benefit. It's completely wasted.
To accomplish results, we must couple our knowledge with the necessary action to attain results. The formula for achieving results is: Knowledge x Action = Result. If you were to apply massive action to your knowledge, it would have a faster, and even greater impact on your life.
Why is it that most people find it difficult to put the necessary action behind their knowledge? I believe it is nothing more than a lack of belief.
Your belief system is the driving force behind your behaviors and your results. If you can change your beliefs, you will change your behaviors. When you change your behaviors, you will change your results. Then, when you change your results, you will change your life.
It all starts with your belief system. Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23).
Now, many things can keep one from believing. But, I think the biggest factor that keeps one from believing is fear. It is a fact that it takes courage to succeed. But, keep in mind that courage isn't the absence of fear, it's the ability to press on despite the presence of fear. Many times, the solution to any fear is simply to do the thing you fear. It's amazing how the fear will disappear!
The smallest of actions, even the ones that seem trivial and insignificant, can lead to great success. It's been said that, "Actions, like pictures, are worth a thousand words."
Without action, you could have the greatest idea and the greatest plan in the world and you would still fail. Whereas a modest idea and an incomplete plan often produces success when accompanied by enough action.
You just got to get moving. Sir Isaac Newton's principle that states a "body at rest tends to remain at rest and a body in motion tends to remain in motion," definitely applies to the action principle. Once you've taken the first step, the next steps seem easier to take.
It's a natural law that if you do nothing, nothing will happen; if you take minimum action, results are going to be minimal; but, if you take massive action, then you will be rewarded with massive results.Hugely successful people, the kind who go from mediocre to millions almost overnight, know that the major key to their success was taking massive action.
If you want to become hugely successful you must start at the beginning. Most beginnings are small, and appear trivial and insignificant, but in reality they are extremely important.
It's not only the right beginning that is important, it's beginning in the first place. It's about applying that powerful little six-letter-word called "action."
The Triangle for Success
Success is a direct result of applying the right principles to your professional life and your personal life. The question is what are the right principles to apply in order to achieve success? Over the years of studying, four primary principles of success continue to surface from the ancient writers. I call these four principles the triangle of success.
The "triangle" of success because one principle is placed at each corner of the triangle and the crucial principle is positioned in the heart of the triangle. The heart of the triangle is what promises success to the other three principles.
The other three principles at the corner of the triangles embody the essence of men and women. You will see what I am talking about as I unfold these three.
Mind
The first corner of the triangle is your thinking process; or in other!
words exercising your mind. Learning is a necessary step towards growing. Growth is imperative to achieve success. Aristotle puts it succinctly, he writes, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
Success follows the ability to analyze a subject, make sound judgments while moving toward your objectives. "You are to be a student, not a follower", says Jim Rohn. That is exactly what professionals are, they are students. Success is the goal; therefore, continuous training, instruction, and being mentored is the process.
Those who are successful pay the price. They apply the disciplines of learning. They have placed value on education and training. I, personally, think that if you are a student, always applying the disciplines of learning, that your philosophies of life will be improving, better ideas come to your thinking, which all leads to success.
Education is something that no one can ever take away from you. It helps to develop and define who you are.
"The best of all things is to learn. Money can be lost or stolen, health and strength may fail, but what you have committed to your mind is yours forever."
--Louis L'Amour (1908-1988)
Emotions
Your emotion is the second corner of the triangle. Passionately pursuing after your objectives leads to success. This is not to say that your objectives come before people in your life, but the principle is to be well taken-success is dependent on your inner drive to achieve it.
The truth is, you will do what you want to do. If you want something bad enough you will dwell on it all of the time doing whatever is necessary to reach your goal. That is passion. Kahlil Gibran said, "All that spirits desire, spirits attain."
Perhaps G. W. F. Hegel says is best, "Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion." You see what I mean when I said above that these principles surface everywhere I studied? These are the principles that made men and women great.
The reasons that they do surface is that these principles are at the core of who and what we are made of inside. You were designed with a purpose and the driving force within you motivates you to accomplish your purpose in life.
"Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall be according to the measure of thy desire."
Arab Proverb
Will
The third corner of the triangle is your will. Eventually, you have to step out and do what you desire. If you never decide to reach for your dream, you will remain in the stands with the majority of people in life.
Perhaps you have fear, hurt, or insecurity, holding you back; if you permit these or any others to control your actions success stands aloof. A mentor at this point may be more helpful, than, reading a book or two. At times we need someone to hold us accountable so that we will do the necessary follow through.
Depending on your temperament exercising your will towards your objectives may take a lot of courage, but courage is what guarantees that these others will work. If you don't have the courage to start you never will know, now will you?
I can not stress it strong enough that taking action is one of the most important principles to achieving your dreams. Jim Rohn, says, "Some are always picking the fruit, while others are always, examining the roots." Consistent action will produce results. It is the law of sowing and reaping. You reap what you sow, in other words, you get what you deserve, not what you need. Plant enough seeds and you will find growth. It is the law of ratio. Ask enough people and someone will join or buy.
"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
- Vincent T. Lombardi
Perseverance
Now, what is in the heart or center of the triangle that will enable you to succeed? Every successful person has this. Do you know? I will give you a clue it begins with a P, now you fill in the blank, P__________. It is perseverance! Perseverance is the inner strength to get back into the battle after you have been wounded. As I observe those who succeed and those who don't, it appears to me that the difference is in perseverance.
Those with perseverance don't stop until they reach their goal. They are relentless! Just when you thought they were down and out this time, sure as the world, they manage, some how, to get back up again.
I love to visit Chocolate World. It is located in Hershey, PA. They make, obviously, Hershey's chocolate. You get to take a tour to see how they make all of that chocolate and at the end of the ride you get a piece of free chocolate and/or the opportunity to buy all the chocolate you want. But, the significant part of the tour is reading "bits and pieces" of Milton Hershey's life (the founder). He, like so many others, failed three times in the business world, before he was successful. He had a dream and would not let go of it.
Was he ever discouraged? You know he was. Did he ever want to quit? Who doesn't? Did others talk bad about him? I think some still do. However, those are not the right questions to ask. Better questions are: "Did he quit?" And "What kept him from quitting?" Or, "How did he persevere?"
No, he did not give up. He persevered through the hard times and some unbearable problems. How did he do that? What kept him going? The same way thousand's of others did it. The big "P" was in the center of the triangle. Perseverance was the heart of their passion, attitude, and will.
Napolean Hill captures the three corners of the triangle when he writes, "Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action." As you add perseverance to this success formula it is one sure way to, at least, do your part to succeed. There are never any promises how life will turn out, but one thing for sure, neglect the right principles and you are removing the possibilities of success.
I will conclude with the words of Abraham Lincoln, "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing."
Author Bio
Dr. John E. Neyman, Jr. is a Pastor, author, speaker, and relationship coach. You may contact Dr John at drjohnneyman@gmail.com or visit his site at LeadersExcel.com
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