7 Helpful Tips To Immediately Increase Your Confidence
1.) Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Too often, we place excess importance on potential problems. We all have a certain amount of energy so let’s apply it to creating extraordinary relationships, advancing our careers and meeting our goals INSTEAD of wasting that energy worrying. Take action on what you have control over and minimize risks for what you don’t. Then invest your energy wisely.
2.) In doing something for the first time, imagine that you have already done it in the past. Close your eyes, then vividly imagine you succeeding wildly at what you are really going to do for the first time. The mind does NOT know the difference between something VIVIDLY imagined and something real. Make it vivid by involving all 5 senses.
3.) Find someone who is already confident in that area and copy them. Model as many of their behaviors, attitudes, values, and beliefs for the context you want to be confident in as you can. How can you do this? Talk with them if you have access to them. If you don’t have access to them, get as much exposure to them as you can. This could be talking to people who know the person and/or buying their products if they have some.
4.) Use the “as-if” frame. I literally love this frame of mind. If you were confident, how would you be acting? How would you be moving? How would you be speaking? What would you be thinking? What would you tell yourself inside? By asking yourself these questions, you are literally forced to answer them by going into a confident state. You will then be acting “as-if” you are confident. Now just forget you are acting long enough and pretty soon you’ll develop it into a habit.
5.) Go into the future and ask if what you’re faced with is such a big deal. This might be a bit morbid and yet this works tremendously well. Imagine yourself on your deathbed looking back over your life. You are surrounded by your friends and family. You’re reviewing your life. Is what you’re faced with now even going to pop up? That’s highly unlikely. Keeping things in proper perspective really diminishes fear.
6.) Remember that you lose out on 100% of the opportunities that you never go for. To get what you want, ask for it. I fully believe that if I ask enough people for whatever I want, I can get it. This is not necessarily true and yet it’s a useful belief. As you think about your goals and what you are striving for, how effective would it be for you to believe that all the people out there want to help you if you only ask? Whether that is true or not in the “real world” does not matter. If you find that belief empowering, I invite you to adopt it as your own.
7.) Disarm the nagging, negative internal voice. That negative internal voice can keep anyone stopped. To disarm the internal voice, imagine a volume control and lower the volume. Or how about changing the internal voice to Mickey Mouse? Do you think you could take Mickey Mouse seriously if he were criticizing you? Change the voice to a clown voice. The point is to disarm the voice by altering the way it nags at you. If I hear my own voice nagging me, it stops me. If I hear a clown voice, I laugh and continue onward.
by Kent Sayre
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"If you do not have a plan for your life, someone else has a plan for you."
What are the goal setting steps outlined here going to do for you?
"If you do not have a plan for your life, someone else has a plan for you."-- Jim Rohn
You want to have plan of action for your life. One of the most effective ways to do that is to activate the goal setting gene in your body.
The plan of action will get your momentum started if you follow these goal setting steps. It may sound simple.
However, in order to achieve your desired result, you need a roadmap and do a little every day to accomplish your goal.
1. Clearly define your goal. Think of goal setting step as marking a map to your destination.
If you don't start by deciding where you are going, then you are what Zig Zigglar calls "a wandering generality".
The act of making a precise decision solidifies your resolve.
2. Decide what you are willing to do or give to achieve your goal. Not what you wish you could do, but what you intend to do. It may be time, money or giving up immediate pleasure for long term rewards. When you look at the goal, decide how valuable it is to you and what you’re willing to sacrifice for it.
3. Where are you in relation to your goal? Again, if you use a map to get to your destination, you have to know where you’re starting point is. Be very honest with yourself. Sometimes looking yourself in the mirror and admitting to what really needs to change may be the toughest thing you ever do.
4. What's been stopping you? Become clear of your barriers and make peace with them. Either you go into it full force, or you change your expectations. The learning process to success may be one of the reasons that this goal is not what you really want. There will be lessons, sometimes tough ones.
Reevaluate the goal if this is the case. If you want more money for your family and believe that the price you must pay is giving up time for them, reconsider your belief.
5. What steps do you need to take to get to the goal? Here’s the map. You know where you are, you know where you’re going and now you must map the route there. Remember, there’s a lot of different ways to get to from point A to point B. Some just take longer than others. Choose the path that fits you. If you want to fly to Chicago there’s a higher price but it’s quicker than walking. If you walk to Chicago it’s tougher and slower but you see more interesting sights along the road.
6. Break down the goal into small palatable steps you can accomplish daily. This is called "chunking". Create something you do each day to accomplish the goal. These small goal-setting steps add up and one day, you’ll look back and see how much you’ve accomplished with a little forward movement every day.
7. Have a system to track your accomplishments. You can keep it as simple as you want or as complicated as they get. Don't get hung up on the details. Whatever you do, ask yourself, "how is this moving me closer to my goal"?
One very simple way is to track your goal with a physical list. Some people think that they’ll simply keep it in their head, but unless you keep the list in front of your face, you replace it with other daily tasks. Almost magically, the more you focus on something the more you achieve it. This works both positively and negatively. If you focus on failure, sure enough that goal comes true also. Put your goal list up in several rooms and make a check mark on it when you accomplish a step. Make it the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night.
Each journey begins with the first step. Turn your dream into a goal and ultimately, a reality. Use these goal-setting steps to help you defining exactly what you want!
By: Kageni Pierce |
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Adding Inspirational Spice to Life Recipes
The recipe for a delicious entree consists of all the right ingredients. Before the oven is heated or the grill is fired up, the chef must consider what herbs and spices to include, what quantities are needed, how many fresh vegetables or meats would accompany the dish, or how much time is needed for cooking. But no matter the type of meal or bakery good that is being prepared, the richer and fresher the ingredients are, the more flavorful the food or treat will be.
Any seasoned cook or aspiring-chef, worth his or her weight in salt, will tell you that the elements that go into food is just as important as the preparation and showmanship of the entree. And there is definitely something to be said about a cook taking generous amounts of care to make all of the precise selections for their masterpiece. Goodness in equals goodness out. The amount of time and concern devoted to creating a heavenly morsel should set the example for how much devotion we, as individuals, need to apply to picking the appropriate ingredients to enrich our hearts and minds.
A dash of motivation, a cup of encouragement, a sprinkle of inspiration, and a teaspoon of momentum can all contribute to creating a fortifying attitude, more positive energy, and renewed direction towards our plan. Some of the seasonings we can add to our recipe to entice our souls and mental stomachs are inspirational quotes on desktop wallpapers.
Inspiration is a major ingredient for rescuing us out of a rut, stirring us to take on new feats, or catapulting us onward to triumph over past failures. Free wallpapers with inspirational quotes are just the spices we need to give our drive some heated passion. And, our bland workspaces can always be enhanced with a new flavor of stimulus. Inspirational quotes on desktop wallpapers can offer good food for the heart and soul.
When we think about that "fresh out of the oven" chocolate souffle, our mouths water with anticipation. We can already taste the smooth chocolate and feel the texture of the flaky crust on our tongue. Why not pique the mind's taste buds with free wallpapers with inspirational quotes? The eyes are charmed with the heartwarming images as the intellect is aroused by the accompanying quotes. Our minds can feast on these forms of inspiration and not have to worry about any weight gain or detriment to our bodies. These wallpapers are absolutely calorie free but totally fulfilling.
There is nothing wrong with owning a healthy appetite for motivational fare or over indulging with thought-provoking illustrations and captions. Like the human body craves certain foods to feed its hunger, provide it nourishment, maintain its fitness, and sustain its life, the mind and spirit craves the same. But, we must respond responsibly in supplying it the suitable kinds of sustenance. We are the head chef for our mind, body, and soul, so we need to choose the ripest incitement, the sweetest words, the most satisfying dreams and fruitful experiences for our self-recipes. After all, a healthy mind, will, and determination can produce a delectable masterpiece.
By: Ronnie Nijmeh
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Are Your Goals Holding You Back?
Imagine what your life would be like if you dropped all of your goals this very second. Can you? If you are like most people, you probably have a great deal of difficulty in imaging what this would be like (or you have just fired me for posing such a silly question).
This type of reaction speaks directly to my point -- that we often define ourselves through our goals. In fact, our goals become so deeply tied to our sense of self that we often no longer question why we work towards the goals we set for ourselves. The pressure we feel to distinguish ourselves from the crowd frequently drives us to set the wrong goals. If we are then faced with having to let go of our goals, we resist, kicking and screaming. Knowing this, it's critical to examine why we set the particular goals we do to ensure we are on the right path for ourselves.
Years ago when I was applying to colleges, I did not have a good sense of what I really wanted to do with my life or where to direct my energy. Being the fifth of five kids, my parents weren't thrilled about paying for yet another child's education. So, they started dropping hints for me to apply for an ROTC scholarship to pay for my schooling.
These scholarships are somewhat prestigious as the government picks up the entire tab for college. In return, recipients have to take military classes, are expected to major in engineering, and spend at least 4 years in the service as an officer and 4 years in the reserves. Sounded decent enough to me.
After a while, the competitive nature of the application process even got my juices flowing. I was going to do whatever it took to win. After a battery of interviews, tests, pushups and physicals, I got a phone call informing me that I ha been awarded a scholarship to the University of Florida. I had actually achieved the first part of my goal and secured a free ride to college! I remember being quite pleased with myself. Then reality struck.
When I arrived at school in the fall, I had trouble adjusting to my newly regimented life. I had little in common with any of the other midshipmen. Since I spent a lot of time with these young men, this meant I had few friends.
My feet bled constantly from my tight white shoes rubbing the skin off my heels. The cleaners turned my dress white uniform a pale shade of blue (THAT goes over well with the brass). I struggled to remain conscious during my dry engineering classes. Come to think of it, I despised the whole experience.
However, as I look back, there is no need to call in Sherlock Holmes to figure out what went wrong. My need for independence, disdain for authority, and lack of ironing skills stacked the deck against me being successful in sustaining this goal.
While this was clearly a wonderful opportunity to achieve a great goal for the right person, the simple fact was that this goal was not right for me. The things that mattered most to me -- my freedom, my individuality, and my love for studying people -- were not being nurtured in this environment. In fact, they were being almost completely suppressed. My "great goal" was in direct conflict with my values and I was completely miserable.
But unhappy as I was, I still felt the need to hang on to this goal. I was no quitter. No, I would do this even if just to prove to everyone else (regardless of whether they really cared or not) that I could achieve this goal.
One fateful day when I was required to wear my nice white uniform around campus, I caught a glimpse of another person in uniform as he exited from the busiest building on campus. You see, you are supposed to recognize the emblems on the shoulders of other military folks and salute the officers. Since I could never master what the bars and squiggles meant, I just did what I always did when such a situation arose. I tried to hide among the other students.
I guess my uniform did not exactly blend in the sea of shorts and flip-flops since I can still hear this Marine's booming voice echo across the quad. "Midshipman, do you think I can get a salute out of you?" he bellowed. Hundreds of students froze, including me. Completely mortified and with all eyes on me, I guess I must have raised my hand to my cap. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, but also turned out to be one of the most liberating.
That was it. I no longer cared what anyone thought, not my parents, not my siblings or my friends. I came to the realization that while pain is inevitable in life, suffering is optional. I quit the program the next day. For the first time in my life, I gave up on a really big goal.
Immediately, I felt like me again. I had no plan, no goals, and far fewer worries. As time passed, I found I was really drawn to psychology and decided to major in it. I found enjoyable work during the school year and worked full time during the summers to make up for expenses. Opportunities that were previously obscured by my laser-like focus on my goal appeared all around me. Giving up that particular goal was the best thing I have ever done for myself.
So, I am challenging you to examine your goals. First, what are your values? Now, do your goals reflect these values? Have you ever really thought about the relationship between your values and your goals? If not, I strongly encourage you to take the time to do so. For if you are truly setting goals around your values, you are living your life at the highest level and giving yourself a tremendous gift. This is where you will achieve true success, both intrinsically and through the financial rewards that often follow doing what you love. When you set the right goals for yourself, these goals will become so compelling that you are naturally drawn to achieving them and they can be reached with remarkable ease and without suffering.
So ask yourself, "What would be a great goal to drop today?"
by Drew Rozell, Ph.D.
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Choose to Rise Above Yourself
Here is a great spiritual secret: the only time we ever "fail" at anything in our lives is when we mistakenly walk away from what has challenged us before we've allowed it to teach us its secret ways.
Imagine we want to learn a new skill; for fun, let's say we'd like to run the high hurdles (a lot like life, isn't it?). Perhaps we buy an instruction book; maybe go watch runners compete at the track. A good beginning, but eventually we must learn by doing; we must leap for ourselves. Our first attempts to sail over the hurdle usually fail. More than likely, we crash! And we know we missed the mark because we're on the ground. So, we pick ourselves up. We try again. Maybe we try running at a different speed, or we work to better time our jump. And we progress because each time we come up short, we make changes. We have realized that part of what it takes to succeed requires that we let go of what hasn't worked in our approach.
Here's the point: the same laws that help us learn how to clear hurdles on a track (or anywhere else in life) also hold true when it comes to rising above ourselves. Making the leap to the Higher Life our heart longs for begins with coming to recognize and release the parts of us that now hold us down.
Let's take an example: whenever we fall into a familiar dark state or recurring state of stress, we need to welcome these moments for what they can teach us about ourselves. Clearly, our aching in such moments is evidence that our past responses to similar crises are inadequate. That we are still crashing into these old hurdles proves that our past responses no longer serve us. We must let them go, because they can take us no higher. This is why the Wise ones see any crisis in life as a "close encounter of the truthful kind." Which brings us to the main lesson:
We will never realize what heights we can reach in life until we stop blaming reality for what happens to us as we go through it. This deliberate break with the "blame game" is the first leap -- especially as it pertains to crashing twice into the same place in life. Despite appearances, our pain is not because life has set the hurdle too high; no, we only "fall" into fear and judging ourselves when we fail to learn the lesson in the pain -- which is something we are empowered to do. Once the lesson is learned, where's the hurdle or our hurt? Behind us! Discovering the truth of ourselves has taken us above and beyond that former barrier. Let's review:
A crisis only becomes a breaking point when we fail to use it as a turning point. And a "turning point" is just that: rather than fall into old resentments or regrets, instead of returning to that defensive mindset that believes blaming others is the same as changing ourselves -- an action that changes nothing except what we lash out at -- we learn to look in a whole new direction for correction.
Now we are learning what it means to use those times when we "fall" as a window of opportunity: to see that we have gone as high as we can with what we know; and then, right there we quietly let go of "who" we have been up to that point. Our wish and our inner work to actualize it sows for us the seeds of a Higher Life. And for our interior work is born in us a new level of self, one that never collapses before a crisis because it knows it lives in a world where nothing has to fall that chooses to rise.
by Guy Finley
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Goals are damaging
I know this is a strange follow-up to my last article, but stick with me. Can you relate to setting goals and not achieving them? Have you ever been frustrated by trying to set goals when you know in your heart that you will never reach them? You even say to yourself, “Who am I kidding? I will never accomplish this goal.” That’s why I’m here to tell you that goals are truly damaging for your future, because you beat yourself up over never reaching those goals.
On the other hand, goals are very important. Don’t let me confuse you with this just read this carefully. Goals are imperative when you have a strong “Why” in place. Let’s parallel this to a ten-story glass building that is shiny and beautiful to the eye. It towers over the city and creates the skyline. Now let’s imagine that the building was built by a group of amateur carpenters in one day and had a poor foundation. It looked very nice, but wasn’t solid. One day a little bird flew smack into that building, and guess what happened? That little, tiny sparrow knocked down that massive building that looked amazingly strong and powerful from the outside. Why? The foundation was pathetic, and there were no true roots to hold that building in place. No one paid the price for that building to hold its own in the real world despite how it looked to the average person.
Let’s tie that into your goals. Your “Why” is your foundation and your roots. Your “Why” must be stronger and bigger than you are right now! You must internalize your “Why” and know exactly “Why” you do what you do everyday to reach your goals. Too many people have set the goals of making a lot of money. Can you relate to that? Have you ever set the goal of making a certain amount of money in a month, and then at the end of the month you haven’t made a dime more? Here’s the reason why. You must know “Why” you want to earn that amount of money for that month. It’s not the money that drives you…it’s your “Why”! What are you going to do with that money? Pay your car payment, donate it to your church, buy your child a new toy…“Why” have you set that financial goal for that month? Another thing, you should never set a goal of “making” a certain amount of money in a month. Instead, after you know “Why” you are setting that financial goal, then set a goal of EARNING that money not MAKING that money. Remember, no one paid that price for that beautiful ten-story building, and it fell. You must be willing to pay the price and EARN your way to your goal.
Let’s go over this again. Goals are damaging to your future. If you don’t have your “Why” in place, then you have no foundation to support you as you head down your success path to completing that goal. Without that foundation, you will give up and be discouraged from ever setting goals for yourself again. It doesn’t matter what type of goal – physical, financial, social, etc. – you must know “Why” you are going pay the price to achieve that goal. If not, then that goal could damage your life instead of assisting you in ultimately achieving success that you’ve always dreamed about. Commit today to develop your “Why” before setting any more goals!
Let me share 3 questions with you that will help you “Find Your Why”.
1. If you did not have to worry about finances or going to your job on Monday morning, then what would you do?
2. If you had so much money that you had to give it away, what would you do with it? Who would you give it to and why?
3. Do you enjoy life? If so, why? If not, then why not? Remember, your past does not control you! Your future should drive you, because you see yourself successful!
After you develop your “Why” and set your goals, you will encounter obstacles and challenges like that little bird that hit that huge building. If your “Why” is strong enough, then unlike that building you will stand firm against whatever tries to stop you from achieving that goal. You will not be knocked down!
Remember, goals are damaging if you don’t have a foundational “Why” in place. I challenge you today to ask yourself those three questions, develop your “Why” and then set your goals.
Find Your Why,
by John Dilemme
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How to Be Inspired Everyday
How does one feel more inspired everyday? Inspiration is the stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. Inspiration comes from the Latin, inspirare which means “To breathe, to blow into …the Spirit is within.”
If you want to feel and be inspired today, here are five suggestions:
1. Movies and music have always been a great source of inspiration. I recall that a key contributor reporting to me told me he was going after his dream to be a radio sports announcer after seeing the movie, “Field of Dreams.” The movie, “Forrest Gump” continues to be a source of inspiration for me. I’d recommend obtaining “The 100 Greatest Movies of All-time” by the American Film Institute. Be aware as well that some movies and music can un-inspire you, so watch a classic movie tonight.
2. Dare to dream…BIG. Only 5% of Americans have goals in writing according to numerous studies, so it’s no surprise that most people don’t feel or act inspired. When you have a worthwhile, meaningful goal, objective or outcome written down that you’re striving towards, your inspiration will increase. If you have goals, remember what Michaelangelo said: “The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we hit it." Stretch yourself today, because we use 10% or less of our mental potential.
3. Contrast, and “count your blessing, not your troubles.” In 25 years of working in personal development, I’ve noticed that when I or my clients have the opportunity to contrast their problems with other people’s problems, they quickly come to realize that “I have it better than I thought.” We take so much for granted, and tend to focus on the negative vs. the positive, which is a human tendency that must constantly be battled. One way to accomplish this is before you go to sleep tonight, count all of your blessings, and count none of your “troubles.” It’s also a great way to start off the morning, too. What are you thankful for? An attitude of gratitude lifts the spirit to more consistent inspiration.
4. One of the primary and best ways to be more consistently inspired is to attend church. A report from the Dallas Morning News: those who regularly attend worship service experience reduced amounts of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, and out-of-wedlock births compared to those who do not attend regular worship service. In addition, they are happier, healthier, have a lower rate of depression, higher level of self-esteem, less divorce, and yes - better sex. They also earn an average of $1100 a month more than those who do not regularly attend worship service. If you already attend church, tithe or give-away five percent of your income – I promise, you’ll be inspired.
5. The greatest source of hope for the future (beyond God and church) and inspiration today is growing personally in our skills, knowledge and attitudes: personal development. If one feels as if they are stagnated or slipping backwards, that person rarely feels inspired, stimulated to high levels of achievement. On the other hand, when you and others notice that you’re growing as a person, changing some of your destructive habits, changing your thinking and attitudes, you feel more of a sense of hope – and that hope is inspirational, knowing that a better day is soon coming because you are becoming a better you! It’s almost guaranteed; remember, patience is a form of action.
Follow these five suggestions for how to become more consistently inspired – feeling, thinking and acting like you have unusual energy, drive, perseverance and calm expectancy of near-term results – and you’ll know for certain that you are headed in the right direction in life. Trust that still, small voice that says, “This might work, and I’ll try it.”
Mark Twain said it best:, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
By: Breeding Trust
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How to Start In Personal Development
Everyone knows that motivation is important. Yet, not many people are able to practice motivation. Is it that hard? Or is it because they simply do not know how to?
You see. Personal development has a wide scope. There are several parts for you to consider like physical, psychological and emotional aspects.
Remember the saying "great things start from small beginnings?" That's what personal development is all about. It all starts the moment you recognize your capabilities and take action accordingly.
Here's a step-by-step guide for your personal development:
Step 1: Take initiative
Trust me. There's always a tomorrow for things. But unless and until you take the initiative to start today, you'll not achieve the outcome that you want for tomorrow.
See that the moment you commit yourself to self-development, sit down and strategize on adopting the changes you are about to embrace. Create achievable and realistic goals. Have the liberty to list your goals in your journal. Go back to the list as often as you like. Focus and take actions according to your goals and ask yourself: What's my next step?
Step 2: Observe and learn from other people
Yes, experience is the best teacher. But you do not have to experience everything to learn from it. You can read books and listen from other people's experiences, not tomorrow. Today is your best option. I suggest you read accounts of great people who have major influences in your life. Learn from these people, direct your thoughts on imitating their phenomenal approach to life then adopt their ways to success.
Aside from the books, you can also look for a coach or a mentor who can guide you along the way. Let's face it, everybody has their mentors and can be a mentor at the same time. Why is that? Understand that you have a different approach to life than the other person. That's the beauty of individuality!
Step 3: Take 100% responsibility and learn from your actions
Along the process of personal development, make sure that you do things that you like. It is easier for you to accomplish your goals if you are enjoying what you are doing. You can focus on the things that will make you a better individual but along the way, make sure that you are aware of the consequences of your movements. If you can not help yourself, no one else could.
Step 4: Value yourself
Give yourself a pat if you achieved something. It is not easy to change but if you did make some improvement then you deserve a toast. That's considered achievement already.
Dare yourself to go on. Begin with achievable goals. Always set for S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Realistic and Timed) goals and when you're almost at the end of your rope, challenge yourself further. Keep going, don't ever give up.
Now, put what you've learned into practice. Begin with the 4 keys to personal development. Remember Step 1? Start taking initiative and responsibility for your own success.
By: Dominic Tay
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The Gift of Inspiration
Throughout life's journey we are often bombarded with demands, decision-making, and deadlines. What better way to get through these speed bumps than to have inspiration drive us over each of them? It is a seed that is planted, takes root, and assists to deliver us where we want to go. We need inspiration like flowers need bees to pollinate new life. It is the substance that stimulates our minds and helps us flourish and grow.
Inspiration comes in all forms and fashion. It can derive from a religious sermon, family, friends, colleagues, professional coaches, therapists, books or photos. Although inspiration comes in many forms, the most rousing are the ones we can actually see. Visual inspiration helps us to see ourselves in another place, to give our minds a little rest and relaxation from our current environment, and allows us an opportunity to drift away for a brief moment and daydream a bit. If we are unable to see ourselves at the finish line and actually go there in our minds, we can lose our direction and energy.
In order to stay consistently focused and productive, our minds and spirit need to re-energize, and inspirations give us that boost we need to maintain the drive. Surrounding ourselves with inspirations that appeal to our sense of sight is a very effective way to keep our goal directly in front of us. If an individual wants to lose weight, a picture of a fit person lying on a gorgeous tropical beach can certainly encourage them. We can all envision our slimmer beautiful bodies basking in the sun with waves crashing onto the white sands. Not only can we see ourselves at our ideal weight but also the encouraging words that accompany the image will follow us throughout our quest.
Every individual should utilize some type of inspiration for work and home to aid in jumpstarting their day, to serve as a reminder of what it is they are striving for and why they are doing the things that they are doing, and to keep the momentum flowing. To help fulfill the need, there are several different types of free inspirational wallpaper that are available. And, in an age where we spend a great deal of time in front of our personal computers, having free inspirational desktop wallpaper is a godsend.
Whether we are sitting at our computer doing work or tackling personal items, having that inspirational snapshot looking back at us provides the right atmosphere and motivation to complete the task at hand. That visual stimulus is the fuel that excites a person into action and keeps them moving in the direction of their dreams and aspirations. Free inspirational wallpaper is an easily accessible, visually striking, and thought-provoking tool that adorns the workspace with positive energy. It uplifts the spirit and helps to generate ideas, creativity, energy, and calmness.
Of all the wonderful gifts that one receives in life, inspiration is truly one of those gifts that keeps giving. When the inspiration is acted upon, it is re-gifted and placed back into the world. The individual gains so much from it and can, in turn, give more of themselves at the workplace and in their personal lives.
Inspiration is equivalent to motion. It moves the mind, spirit, and body to greater heights. Inspiration spurs one towards their goals - their destiny. So, a person should exercise it, relish it, look for it, use it, obtain it, give it, and soak it all in. It is a special gift to receive, and we should allow it to compel us into action.
By: Ronnie Nijmeh
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No Excuses: It’s Up To You!
Most of us have, deep at the center of our hearts, some things we would like to accomplish. But few of us dare to start on the journey. We sit around blaming our circumstances on others and making excuses for our shortsightedness, then we go to our graves with unfulfilled dreams. Underneath it all, the real reason we don’t get the promotion, succeed in the business, or raise a happy, self-confident family is that we fail to prepare. We leave it to chance, hoping somehow things will turn out all right. We float on the ocean of life until we run aground and wreck ourselves.
No Excuses: It’s Up To You!
In 1983, I left Haiti with a Haitian Theater company to perform in Montreal, Canada. After a few appearances, I escaped from the troupe. Because the immigration department in Canada had no pity on immigrants, I faced the threat of going back to Haiti, and, believe me, that was not an option for me. Instead I paid a truck driver to smuggle me into the United States.
I remember how I had to wedge myself underneath the tractor-trailer, between the rear tires, in a push-up position. I was covered with dust, smoke and ashes. I had cramps in my legs, and I was shaking. I wanted to give up. But when I remembered my family and my friends back in Haiti who were counting on me for help, I had to hold on.
I finally made it to what I call the Promised Land — America. The truck driver literally dumped me in Brooklyn, New York. I was excited on one hand and confused on the other. It was as if I were swimming in a sea of change, and I had just two choices: Swim, or die. My only possessions consisted of one pair of pants, two shirts, and five dollars. In addition to that, I was unable to speak English. The only thing I knew for sure was that life was never going to be the same again!
I share my story with you to impress one thing upon you: No matter where you start in life, you can become a leader the moment you realize that if it’s going to be, it’s up to you.
Five Ways to Prepare Yourself for Success
1) Become an Avid Reader
"Good leaders are good readers" —Jim Rohn
Abraham Lincoln once said that if he were given eight hours to chop down a tree, he would spend six hours sharpening his ax and two hours chopping down the tree. That is one of the true characteristics of a leader. We all should take time to sharpen our axes — by reading! Believe it or not, the average American reads just one book a year. What that means to you and me is that if we only read one book a month in our field, we will be twelve years ahead of the average person!
The late Earl Nightingale, in his book, The Strangest Secret, said that if we read for two hours every day on any subject, in five years, we would become national experts on that particular subject. And in ten years, we would have the equivalent of a Ph.D! To me, reading quality books is the ultimate joy in life. It rekindles my hope and takes me to new heights. It rejuvenates me and gives me a boost. We can no longer make excuses about not having time to read. Today we can even buy most books on tape, thereby turning our cars into a university on wheels while commuting to and from work! On the road to success, we must gather a lot of information through quality reading.
2) Network with Successful People
In America, there is an association for continuing education in every line of business. If we want to meet the movers and shakers directly, we have to become joiners. It’s amazing how accessible the "big dogs" are when we attend the networking events. It’s like being a small fish in a big pond. It allows us to bypass the gatekeepers — the assistants — and go straight to the decision-makers.
The best way to find out which associations you can join is to go to the library and ask for the Encyclopedia of Associations. Another great way to network is to join the local Chamber of Commerce. First, however, you must learn how to network and build strong referral systems. There are many books on the subject. One of them is by Harvey Mackay: Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.
3) Find a Mentor
Every great athlete, celebrity, and business executive can point to a mentor — a coach. They each had people who helped them to get where they are. One of the best methods of preparation is to find a mentor — a person who has been there, done that, and has gotten the T-shirt — to guide you along the way.
Whether you want to move up in your company or establish a solid business of your own, a mentor can make a significant difference. And you don’t necessarily have to have just one mentor; you can have many. This may sound simple, but it is powerful! No matter what line of business you are in, you need a coach — someone you talk with about your failures and successes, someone who can advise you. How do you find a mentor? Just ASK!
People normally love to talk about their successes and how they accomplished them. They are eager to help us if we courteously ask them. For many years I failed to put into practice the old advice in the Bible: "Ask and ye shall receive." Don’t let that happen to you — ASK!
4) Attend Continuing Education Classes
Our minds are like leaky buckets; what we know is constantly dripping out. I read a story about a man who was working for a company for about twenty years. It seems like they always passed over him for promotions. Ironically, he had trained new hires who would eventually become his boss! One day he confronted the president of the company about the situation. He told his boss that he was being treated unfairly, especially since he had had twenty years of experience with the company. The president sat the man down and told him, "No! You only have one year of experience repeated for twenty years."
How long have you been in your line of business? Are you getting new knowledge, or are you applying old knowledge? If we are going to thrive and survive in these turbulent times, we must expand our minds. And one of the best ways of expanding is to attend adult learning classes at the local colleges, universities, and technical schools. They are very affordable, and they also have flexible schedules. There are no excuses: IT’S UP TO YOU!
5) Find Time for a Quiet Reflection
The great philosophers, thinkers, scientists, and business gurus always find quiet time to be alone — to ponder, recharge, and flood their minds with images of their future goals. We should never be so busy chasing a dream that we are no longer able to visualize it in our minds. There are times when the burdens are heavy, but this is when we need to enter our inner world and examine our lives. Socrates once said to his students, "An unexamined life is not worth living." Quiet reflection is a time to get to know the invisible power that sustains our lives. Starting today, take a few moments every day to reflect.
By Rene Godefroy
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Why You Don't Need Motivation
Why you don't need motivation As a life coach, I often hear people say they lack motivation in fact, the motivation discussion is almost a ritual with my new clients. You really want something, in fact you almost need it, but you just don't have the drive to get to it. As a result, you blame yourself; you get stuck in your disappointment, your guilt, or your frustration further and further away from your goal. But why are we not always driven enough to meet our objectives in the first place? Is it that we are not sufficiently determined? Or maybe we are not tough and strong enough?
The way I see things, motivation is akin to the sap that runs in the tree: it keeps the tree alive in fact, it's essential to it but it's useless if the tree (our objective) is rooted in poor, unhealthy grounds. it's not our motivation that makes the objective real, it's the other way around: when our goals are healthy, the drive to take action flows naturally. When our goals are unhealthy, we have to push ourselves all along the path to success and we don't even feel like celebrating at the end (when we do get there).
So what is an unhealthy objective? it's an objective we hold for the wrong reasons, or with the wrong attitude: it's rooted in poor grounds. it's not that we should not lose weight; it's just that we decided to do so because we don't like (let alone love) ourselves and we think that will patch the problem. It's not that we should not start this new business; it's just that we are dead afraid of failure. And there's nothing wrong with studying law, it's just that we do so only to honor our (deceased) father's values and wishes.
There are many factors that can literally kill our motivation at its roots, but weakness certainly isn't one of them. The real motivation inhibitors go more along this line:
- Our objective is not a real priority (Going to the gym, when you have three children to take care of)
- We feel our objective is inaccessible (A brand-new Volvo when we can't afford a Toyota)
- Our objective was inspired or chosen by someone else (That law degree or maybe your partner wants you to stop smoking)
- Our objective is motivated by self-rejection rather than self-respect (Very frequent, and always overlooked. People trying to lose weight often experience that)
- Our objective is a strong should, or a vibrant must; but not a want (It would be appropriate to be in better terms with the other members of our family, but we are too resentful about past events to really change anything)
- We are afraid of success, afraid of failure. Afraid of something (We are conflicted about our objective, we have mixed motives even if we are not aware of them)
- Our objective is not in alignment with our true self (Looking for a job in a field that doesn't feel right to us)
- Some part of us doesn't want to reach our objective, for some reasons (We know that when we do reach our goal, we ll have to do or experience something that repulses us)
- We feel overwhelmed by all the actions we have to take (we have a hard time taking one small step at a time)
- A recent failure makes us feel powerless
- Etc.
When we start looking at this, we realize that the results we get (or do not get) are an accurate reflection of what we deeply think, and feel. We do not experience in life what we hope for, but rather what we think we deserve, what we expect, what we are the most confident in. That's how we create. We will not feel much motivation for a goal that is incongruent with our profound beliefs and thoughts as idyllic as this goal may be.
Motivation isn't about toughness and strength it's about alignment. It's not necessarily about wanting something very badly, but more about wanting something completely. When we lack motivation, some part of us is saying, I don't want to reach that goal it doesn't serve me . Maybe it's time to change our objective, maybe we need to look inward and take care of other things first (see the list above). Or maybe we just need to take a deep breath, relax, and listen to the wind for a while.
by Marie-Pier Charron
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