Pursuing Your Passion

We all have talents and gifts. Some people's are apparent, such as Beethoven, Michael Jordan, or Winston Churchill. Others live out their personal and professional lives in less conspicuous ways but no less valuable ways.

Only you can define your passion. The fact that your mother wants you to be a doctor, your father wants you to conquer Wall Street, your spouse wants you to be an architect, or the coach wants you to play first base really doesn't matter.

Your passion is, quite simply, nothing more or less than your passion. It is, very simply, that thing in this world about which you are passionate. It does not have to be justified nor quantified to anyone's satisfaction other than yours.

Consider the following:

1. What activities cause you to be excited and energized?
2. What activities tend to make you tired and worn out?
3. What passions in your life are you proud to share with others?
4. What do you want to be known for?
5. If you had to pursue one course to make a difference in the world, what would it be?

Once you have identified your passion, it is important to find the best way to turn your passion into your profession. The late, great George Burns once told me that "If you love your job, you never work a day in your life." George Burns was passionate about his career as an entertainer, and he pursued that passion joyously for almost a century.

Recently, I've had the true privilege of getting to know 97- year-old Coach John Wooden who has, by far, more NCAA National Basketball Championships than anyone ever.

Coach Wooden considers himself a teacher. Had he not been a basketball coach, he feels he would have taught English. He sees very little difference between training seven-foot super athletes and instructing college freshmen in the basic rudiments of the English language.

Coach Wooden understands the key principle. His passion is the act of teaching, but it can be implemented in many ways.

I have a good friend who was a struggling night club comedian. Comedy was his passion, but he had reached a point where he could no longer survive financially. Then he made what some people would consider a drastic career move and became a humorist, speaking at corporate events.

Now he makes an amazing living and still pursues his passion. My friend understands that his passion is the comedy, whether it's in a smoky nightclub or a corporate convention setting.

As you go through your day today, look for more and unique ways to pursue your passion.

Today's the day!

[Source: jimstovall.com, by Jim Stovall]

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How You Start Your Day Counts

Whether or not we choose to believe it, for the most part you and I have a clean slate with each new sun rise. Whatever happened yesterday, good or bad is now rooted in the past.

In the moment in which we now find ourselves, we have the ability to focus in on and do the things which will serve us for the better, or we can give our attention to those things which will re-ignite whatever thoughts were causing us to remain stuck.

We have a choice, and fortunately, it isn't all that difficult to set the tone early on in your day. Does that mean you're guaranteed not to meet with a challenge early on that will knock you off course or throw you for a loop? Of course not, but in the event that something (or someone) shows up with such an agenda you'll find yourself a lot more prepared to deal with it and be able to adjust course accordingly.

Here are some simple, but effective ideas you can use to start your day out on a positive note.

Upon waking up, name at least ten people you're thankful for - recount those in your life who've had a positive impact on you. Think of those who have in some way helped to make you the unique person you are.

Don't sell yourself short here. No matter what place you may find yourself in now, you're still an amazing person, with unique gifts and talents. You don't have to believe it, but it's still the absolute truth!

Practicing gratitude is a powerful thing that helps to reconnect us with our inner power, and the abilities which make up who we are.

Give thanks for your talents and skills - each of us has been blessed with special skills and talents. You may not feel as though you've completely developed all of yours up to this point in your life, but that doesn't change the fact that you've got them.

Think through those things that others compliment you on, those are talents. Don't underestimate all the amazing bits and pieces that go into making you the person you are. As you identify and give thanks for the talents that were bestowed upon you commit to develop them and become more proficient in their use.

Write down your days most important action steps the night before - The simple act of writing down the following days most important tasks will give you a plan to move on the next day. Keep in mind that you can get the most productive mileage if you'll put your "super tasks" at the top, where you'll complete them first.

For the purpose of this article consider Super Tasks as those things which upon their completion will give you the absolute most bang for your buck. Consider the difference between a "super task" and say one of lesser importance. A super task might be: calling on a prospective client, while one that doesn't quite hold such importance in the grand scheme of things might be: cut the grass.

While both are important, and you may very well want to get both done, the simple fact is the first example is going to lead towards a greater reward then the latter. You see, it's more a matter of separating items which fall into the category of "busy work" versus those which can move us forward at a maximum pace. Another such "super task" might be to spend time studying your industry or chosen profession.

Review the actions steps you wrote down the night before - As you are looking over the items you wrote down, close your eyes and see yourself completing them and experiencing the wonderful sense of accomplishment for having done so.

After you have visualized yourself finishing the items on your daily action list take a deep breath and begin your day working on and completing them.

Keep in mind that each new day is just that -- an opportunity to turn the page, and implement daily actions that can steer your life in the direction you wish it to go.

You can sail your ship, or choose to remain mired in inaction and float aimlessly, dependent upon whatever life may throw your way. My sincere hope for you is that you will choose the first option.

It's your life, LIVE BIG!

[Source: JoshHinds.com, by Josh Hinds]

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Borrow Someone Else's Brain!

One of the things I hear most from people, and that I notice about myself, is that when you get an idea about going after some cool goal, often it's dismissed in a millisecond because you can't imagine taking the steps necessary to reach it.

Imagining something that doesn't exist yet is a skill that very few people have...

But it just may be the single most important factor or skill in living a happy, contented, and productive life.

Usually, we don't get the outcomes we want simply because we can't imagine it. We aren't able to imagine saying the right thing or being confident no matter how much we prepared.

We don't feel creative or successful, so that part of our mind stays hidden behind a brick wall. It's there, but we don't "let" it out. We "can't imagine it..."

Microwave ovens, disposable diapers, fax machines and email grew out of someone's mind. Forks had to be invented, too. All from the mind of a person. In fact, simply learning anything old requires imagination.

What you may not realize is that in just a few minutes a day, you can use your imagination for some other very interesting things... useful things. And if your ability to make real something that doesn't exist today is lacking, I have a new and simple tool for you. I'm amazed every time I do it.

It's literally a "no-brainer."

If you want to learn something or do something you've never done or done well, try this.

You can do this for absolutely anything, but let's say you're trying out for a play. Ask yourself who's done this before? Who's good at this? The simplest answer is to think of an actor you admire for their talent and range.

My stepdaughter is going through this right now. So she chose Sarah Michelle Gellar, one of her favorite actresses.

What you do is this: When you need to perform at your best or if you need to get great ideas, replace your own head (or mind), figuratively speaking, with theirs. You imagine their head is put in the place of yours. Got the picture?

Once you've done that, ask yourself what they would do now.

• How would they stand?
• What would they think about their chances? What is their confidence level?
• What kind of look would they have on their face?
• How would they walk?
• What kind of pictures would they see in their mind's eye?
• What would they be imagining?
• What would they do? And after that, what? And on and on...

Sit down, close your eyes and imagine it. Have a piece of paper and a pencil next to you. Give yourself 5 minutes. Have all the questions above and more in your mind.

Become that person...

Studies have been done on this phenomenon and frequently found that at the exact moment the imagining exercise was being done by a person, others observed that person to be actually doing, saying or acting in the manner that they were imagining!

School children who've never been good students have been transformed into 'A' students literally in minutes, just by imagining themselves as top students.

It's simple. You don't need training. But the more often you take these 5-10 minute "breaks," the faster you'll get the answers you want, the better you'll do your job or the better your grades will be.

Use it to improve your work performance and get that promotion and raise.

But if you're a gotta-have-it-now person, keep in mind that this will work and work quickly. But if you think that next week you'll be getting a raise, based on your great performance of the week before, success still demands that you continue to perform daily. Long-term rewards come in the long term.

So pack this one in your arsenal and pull it out whenever you need to effortlessly overachieve or when you're stuck. And if no one is there to pat you on the back, do it yourself. Or imagine someone you respect doing it.

Do this. It only takes 5 minutes. You just may get an idea that will revolutionize your entire life; and maybe everyone else's too!

Keep in mind that success is seldom complex. Just because this "seems" too simple to be effective, don't dismiss it. If your success and happiness are important to you, choose an area of life where you want to perform well and do this exercise.

5 minutes. How about right now?

[Source: thinkrightnow.com, by Mike Brescia]

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Improve Your Memory, Improve Your Life

One way of keeping your head clear and not getting into a perceptual rot is by walking different ways to work every day... Take a left where you usually take a right. Do the scenic tour instead of the shortest trip.

Have you heard it before? Sure you have.

Have you done it?

Uhm...

Once, maybe?

Uhm. Maybe.

I've certainly heard it many times. And I've even done it... uhm ... a couple of times. But soon, I'm back to taking the quickest way. Hey, it's the morning. I am sleepy. I need to get to work. Shortest way is best.

Going back home, there's some other reason. Have to get back home to my wife. Have to get the kid in kindergarten. And I'm tired after a full day of working. Give me a break. I'm going the shortest way.

And that's how the days go by.

At least, that's how they went by... Until last year.

I'd been thinking about the teachings of our old friend William Walker Atkinson (author of "Memory, How to Develop, Train and Use It"), and I thought: why on Earth don't I use his technique when walking to work?

There's probably a thousand and one small things I never notice every day — things that are really there, clear, vivid, real — and in my line of vision — and I really never notice them.

Instead of changing my route, I changed my head.

I opened up. I wanted to be like a child, and see the world freshly. Why do kids always seem to get too late to school? It is because they see everything, they are totally taken in by what they see, they are lost in the present, isn't it?

So I looked. I just used my eyes as I walked. At first, I was somewhat freaked out by this experiment. I had resolved to discover something new every day — something new that was clearly visible, for all to see, on this road that I walked five days a week — and had been walking for about a year.

And I was freaked because I was thinking: What if I don't notice anything new? What if I am really not open to seeing anything I haven't noticed before...

So I did some easy discovering. I looked at every tree, and I could honestly say I'd never noticed most of them before. I knew there were trees, but I hadn't seen them, any one of them, and actually thought about it... lingered by the thought.

But now I did. I saw a birch, and this was the autumn, and the birch was really burning with red and yellow leaves, and I realized that not only had I never noticed this birch before, I had never really noticed how beautiful the birches could be when fired up by that magnificent autumn display.

I hadn't changed the way I walked; I'd changed my head.

Day by day, I noticed new things. Things you'd find it hard to believe could be ignored. Whole houses. A kindergarten. A super market. All things on the way I'd been walking, back and forth, five days a week, for a year.

It was exhilarating, gratifying... and extremely frightening.

It wasn't frightening in the beginning, but as I saw thing after thing, noticed beautiful houses, vintage cars, apple trees, I started thinking about other aspects of my life.

What was I missing because I never really looked?

Not just birches, but how beautiful they can actually be, when lit up by autumn magic.

What didn't I see in my life, that was there every day? With my son... With my wife. Me? What about me? Were there things about me, obviously visible, plain out into the open, that I never saw? That I could see, if only I looked?

I did see something in me. And it was beautiful, and not what I expected.

Later.

How about my wife? I saw things I'd known, that I could have told you before, but that I still never really saw. I mean, I didn't see it clearly, I didn't see its implications, or where it came from, or how it affected her and those around her... until I started looking openly.

I saw something surprising. I saw how she could see a lot of things that I was usually unaware of. I noticed that she actually saw a lot of things... that few people see.

So what did that do to me?

It helped me value her even more. I admire her even more as a human being, and I also know that even more than I knew before, she is strengthening the team that is our family. Her clear-sightedness is one of the most valuable assets a family (or business, or person) could have.

Now of course she doesn't see everything. But more than I did. So I learned this...

Memory is a skill. It can be taught, and learned.

Some have it more than others, but it is easy to acquire. I did it. The basic skill can be acquired in an instant. All it takes is a shift of how you think about the world around you. At first you will forget to do it, but if you force yourself for a few days, pretty soon it will become automatic.

So what did I learn about me?

I saw that I had all the skills that I needed. I had all the knowledge. I had the time, and the experience. I had the right tools. I had everything I needed, except for the mindset.

I was always searching outside of me, looking for a secret weapon, a better tool, smarter knowledge. I was looking and looking, consuming and consuming, instead of producing.

I had everything I needed. For what? I had everything I needed to accomplish my goals. I had some goals I had written down and was chasing, reverently, desperately.

When I realized I had everything I needed to accomplish those goals, everything changed. I started writing, producing, believing in my own value, my own ability to succeed.

And that is a great feeling!

It gave me peace. It took away the stress. It let me relax when I needed to, and work, efficiently and effectively, when I needed to. It gave me sorely needed balance.

And all that just because I paid better attention. I saw things that had always been there. I saw the beautiful birch, alight with the magic of autumn.

Not only did it allow me to create my Corelizer System (complimentary ebook download, no email required). It also had a profound implication...

When I turned from a consumer to a producer, from a reader to a writer, from a doubter to a believer, I also turned from a dreamer to a doer. I did! I did all the things I'd been reading about, thinking about, dreaming about.

And do you know what?

It isn't dreaming that gets you results.

It is doing. It is doing the right things, doing the things your strengths tell you to do.

If you do stuff because you are desperate, you do the wrong things. And even if you do the right things, you do them the wrong way. You won't see the results you want.

When you do things based on your strengths, you create value. You are an asset to humanity. You are a pillar of society.

How can you utilize that strength if you do not see it? When you do not even know it is there?

(Hint: You can't.)

That's why even if you don't care about memorizing more stuff, enhancing your memory is a powerful and easy to learn skill that will impact you positively throughout every aspect of your life.

[Source: youcantbeatme.com, by Sten Anderson]

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Words Without Actions

Not long ago, I was interviewing two people applying for the same position. When the first candidate was asked what her goals were, Becky replied that continuous learning was her goal. When asked what steps she had taken to accomplish her goal, Becky said that she was going to sign up for a course in the fall.

The next candidate had a similar goal, but, in this case, Rebecca had actually taken several courses to help her achieve what she wanted. This action showed not only did Rebecca have a goal; she had been implementing an action plan to achieve here desired results.

"Words without actions are the assassins of idealism." -- Herbert Hoover

In the end Rebecca had created stress for herself in using "words without action". When you find yourself in stressful situations, rather than using words to reduce your stress, take action to create less stress in your life.

A great way to take action is to set goals for your life. Setting goals and taking action can result in less stress in your life. It prepares you for other opportunities. It gives you a focus on the future rather than being stuck where you are.

So often people are stressed but do little to reduce their stress. Setting goals for yourself is the first step in changing your life. But more importantly, taking action towards achieving these goals will actually create less stress in your life, as you will see yourself progressing towards "a goal that you want".

[Source: stresslesscountry.com, by Catherine Pulsifer]

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10 Reasons Why Resolutions Fail

If you haven't had success with New Year's goal setting in the past, you're not alone. Surveys show an eight percent success rate for those making resolutions.

Nearly half of the people have given up on resolutions by the end of January. It seems that people want to make changes, but the changes just don't stick.

Below are the top ten reasons that people fail when making resolutions.

1. Selecting goals out of obligation not inspiration. Have you ever chosen a goal because your boss, your spouse, or your friend thinks you should. Forget it! Unless you are inspired to make a change, you're not going to invest in "should" goals. Instead, find something that inspires you.

2. Limiting thinking to life change versus life creation. We've already talked about being inspired by your goal. This doesn't happen when you just focus on changing what you're doing wrong. Most everyone knows that they should get out of debt, stop smoking and get off the couch.

The reason people don't achieve these changes is that they are focusing on the negative. Focus on the life you desire to create versus the negative habit you want to stomp out. For example, instead of setting a goal of getting out of debt, decide to create a net worth of $100,000, $1 million or $5 million.

3. Not shifting the mindset to embrace the change. I believe the number one predictor of success is that your mindset matches the life you desire to create. The mindset that created obesity needs to shift before you can become the person of a healthy weight. Change doesn't happen on the outside without a change on the inside. Techniques such as visualization and affirmations can help you make the shift.

4. Failure to write goals down. If you keep your goals in your head, they are fantasies that you might or might not do someday. Thoughts turned into words become deeds.

5. Not creating a specific plan. Writing down a goal isn't enough. A plan of action will help you keep on track. What will you do when? How will you measure progress? What do you need to learn to be successful?

6. Letting ordinary life monopolize your time. It can be easy to let the activities of daily life interfere with your goals. For example, if your goal is becoming physically fit, you may all of a sudden think that you need to abandon your exercise time and instead use the time for shopping or housecleaning. Don't let the practical excuses interfere with your goal work.

7. Trying to make a change without any support. You need people in your life who can help you achieve your goal. Remember, you don't need to figure it out on your own. Find someone who can show you the way and also provide support as you make the shift.

8. Letting the doubts drown out the inspiration. It's going to happen. You will have that negative voice that crops up once in a while asking you such questions as: Why you are wasting your time? Who do you think you are? Why do you want to make this change anyway? You need to be prepared for these negative thoughts by having some responses to answer the doubts.

9. Spending time with people who support your old ways. Birds of a feather DO flock together. At some level, you associate with the people you do because they support your act. When you decide to set new goals for yourself, the people closest to you may feel threatened and try to discourage your change. Try to limit your time with the naysayers when you first start making your shift.

10. Not celebrating success along the way. Congratulate yourself for your small achievements. You are making changes that will culminate into a different way of being.

[Source: nancybrook.com, by Nancy Brook]

Nancy Brook is an award-winning speaker, author and goal-setting junky. She is launching her first book, “Cycling, Wine and Men: A Midlife Tour de France.” Find out more about Nancy at www.nancybrook.com.

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Habit Is as Habit Does

Let's begin with the painfully obvious truth:

• Successful people have successful habits.
• Losers in life have loser habits.
• Habits are behavior, and behavior never lies.
• Your habits determine you're your past, present and your future.
• If you want change in your life, you must change your habits.

Let's do a simple fill in the blank exercise to determine how well your current habits are serving you.

Here's a health related example with two possible answers:

• My health, exercise and eating habits have... turned me into a firm, energetic and unstoppable powerhouse.

• My health, exercise and eating habits have... turned me into a flabby, lethargic and unmotivated person.

Now, take a few moments to answer these questions regarding your habits.

1. My savings and spending habits have...
2. My sales and marketing habits have...
3. My relationship habits have...
4. My parenting habits have...
5. My time management habits have...
6. My demonstrated leadership habits have...
7. My communication habits have...
8. My work habits have...

So, how did you do? Are your habits helping or hurting your performance?

The one true path to success and happiness in life is to change your behavior by replacing your bad habits with positive habits that move you in the direction that you want.

It's easy for me to say that if you keep doing what you've been doing, you'll keep getting what you've been getting, so change your behavior.

And that's exactly what I'm going to tell you to do-just change!

I want you to look at your results year to date, right now-- today and determine what habits you must change in order to secure a better tomorrow.

Don't procrastinate as that's a destructive habit that is definitely not worth repeating as it bears no desirable fruit and most likely will lead to regret and missed opportunity.

Everything Counts!

[source: personalstrategicplan.com, by Gary Ryan Blair]

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Personal Story with an Olympic Gold Medal Winner

American wrestler Rulon Gardner defeated Alexander Karelin (the greatest Russian wrestler of all time) in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games. It’s gone down in history as the “Miracle on the Mat.” At the time of this Olympic match, Karelin had NEVER lost a wrestling match in 13 years… and for six straight years the Russian “Karelin” hadn’t even given up a single point!

This is unheard of in wrestling. Just think of that…six years without giving up a SINGLE POINT in any match!

It was one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, especially when you consider that Rulon was raised in humble beginnings on a Wyoming farm, one of 9 children. (he happens to now live near our “Land Office” during part of the year).

Anyway, I first met Rulon last summer because of a charity we are both passionate about. The charity invited us in to do some filming in a studio, because they wanted to post some stuff to their website.

I’ll never forget this day for one special moment that took place.

You see, a producer guy had written out some lines for us to say via teleprompter into the camera. And I’ll never forget when it was Rulon’s turn in front of the camera.

After like 14 takes, he still couldn’t read the first sentence. People in the studio were kind of looking around, fidgeting and pretending not to notice. And then finally Rulon yelled “cut”! He said, “That sentence just comes off as too negative…I don’t like anything with the word “can’t” in it…can we please change this sentence to read more positive?”

(the opening sentence written for Rulon had the word “can’t” in it)

How do you argue with a 300 lb. man in the room with a gold medal around his neck? You don’t! And as soon as the teleprompter dude changed the sentence, Rulon read the more positive version in one take, and just smiled all the way through it.

You could feel this good vibe just dance around that studio room. It happened to give me a case of the goose-bumps - & I could tell it did to everyone else.

I'm not a "walk on hot coals" kind of guy. But I will say this. There is an energy that halos around an Olympic gold medal, and the person wearing it. If you've ever been around one, you know what I'm talking about!

After filming, I got a chance to hang with Rulon and I asked him about that match in Sydney. He told me that for months leading up to the Olympics, he never allowed a negative thought to once enter his head, not one. And as I sat there staring at his gold medal he went on to say we can do and be whatever we want in life. And that the only reason he beat Karelin was because he never had one negative thing cross his mind.

I just got the goosebumps again about this whole experience, just thinking about it and writing this to you!

Anyway – I just wanted to share this encounter with you – it's personal and special to me. And it’s still fresh in my mind and it’s a clear reminder of how much we’re capable of.

We all have a “Karelin” in our path that looks impossible to beat. But if you relentlessly remain positive – you can do the “impossible”. The only person holding you back is you!

Remember this, the next time you run up against a wall or the next time you think something is impossible.

If the guy who has the gold medal around his neck can't even say the word "can't" -- how should you be thinking and talking to yourself about what you want to overcome?

I've got some pics of this right here:

http://spilnk.com/1582-1247-86432-396716/www.masterincometrader.com/olympics

I hope you enjoy them a lot. And I hope this finds you well!

Until next time,
Preston James

[Source: masterincometrader.com, Traders Edge Network]

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Read All the Books

All of the books that we will ever need to make us as rich, as healthy, as happy, as powerful, as sophisticated and as successful as we want to be have already been written.

People from all walks of life, people with some of the most incredible life experiences, people that have gone from pennies to fortune and from failure to success have taken the time to write down their experiences so that we might share in their wealth of knowledge.

They have offered their wisdom and experience so that we can be inspired by it and instructed by it, and so that we can amend our philosophy by it. Their contributions enable us to reset our sail based upon their experiences.

They have handed us the gift of their insights so that we can change our plans, if need be, in order to avoid their errors. We can rearrange our lives based on their wise advice.

All of the insights that we might ever need have already been captured by others in books. The important question is this: In the last ninety days, with this treasure of information that could change our lives, our fortunes, our relationships, our health, our children and our careers for the better, how many books have we read?

Why do we neglect to read the books that can change our lives? Why do we complain but remain the same? Why do so many of us curse the effect but nourish the cause?

How do we explain the fact that only a small percent of our entire national population uses the library card they possess - a card that would give us access to all of the answers to success and happiness we could ever want?

Those who wish for the better life cannot permit themselves to miss the books that could have a major impact on how their lives turn out. The book they miss will not help!

And the issue is not that books are too expensive! If a person concludes that the price of buying the book is too great, wait until he must pay the price for not buying it. Wait until he receives the bill for continued and prolonged ignorance.

There is very little difference between someone who cannot read and someone who will not read. The result of either is ignorance. Those who are serious seekers of personal development must remove the self-imposed limitations they have placed on their reading skills and their reading habits.

There is a multitude of classes being taught on how to be a good reader and there are thousands of books on the shelves of the public libraries just waiting to be read. Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. We must not permit anything to stand between us and the book that could change our lives.

A little reading each day will result in a wealth of valuable information in a very short period of time.

But if we fail to set aside the time, if we fail to pick up the book, if we fail to exercise the discipline, then ignorance will quickly move in to fill the void.

Those who seek a better life must first become a better person. They must continually seek after self-mastery for the purpose of developing a balanced philosophy of life, and then live in accordance with the dictates of that philosophy.

The habit of reading is a major stepping-stone in the development of a sound philosophical foundation. And in my opinion it is one of the fundamentals required for the attainment of success and happiness.

To Your Success,

Live a Beautiful Life

[Source: jimrohn.com, by Jim Rohn]

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Peace of Mind Tips and Advice

Most people would be glad to have some peace of mind in their life. They would be happy to forget their troubles, problems and worries, and enjoy a few moments of inner calmness and freedom from obsessing thoughts.

What is peace of mind? It is a state of inner calmness and tranquility, together with a sense of freedom, when thoughts and worries cease, and there is no stress, strain or fear. Such moments are not so rare. They may be experienced while being engaged in some kind of an absorbing or interesting activity, such as while watching an interesting movie or TV program, while being with someone you love, while reading a book or while lying on the sand at the beach.

Such and similar activities take away the mind from its usual thoughts and worries, and bring some temporary inner peace.

The question is, how to bring more peace of mind into our life, and more importantly, how to experience it in times of trouble. You might also ask whether it is possible to make it a habit, and enjoy it always and under all circumstances. First, you need to learn to bring more moments of inner peace into your daily life. Later, you will be able to experience these moments in times of trouble or difficulties too, when you most need inner calmness and tranquility.

Here are a few simple things that can help you:
• Reduce the amount of time you read the newspapers or watch the news on TV.
• Stay away from negative conversations and from negative people.
• Don't hold grudges. Learn to forget and forgive. Nurturing ill feelings and grievances hurts you and causes lack of sleep.
• Don't be jealous of others. Being jealous means that you have low self-esteem and consider yourself inferior to others. This again, causes lack of inner peace.
• Accept what cannot be changed. This saves a lot of time, energy and worries.
• Every day we face numerous inconveniences, irritations and situations that are beyond our control. If we can change them, that's fine, but this is not always possible. We must learn to put up with such things and accept them cheerfully.
• Learn to be more patient and tolerant with people and events.
• Don't take everything too personally. Some emotional and mental detachment is desirable. Try to view your life and other people with a little detachment and less involvement. Detachment is not indifference, lack of interest or coldness. It is the ability to think and judge impartially and logically. Don't worry if again and again you fail to manifest detachment. Just keep trying.
• Let bygones be gone. Forget the past and concentrate on the present moment. There is no need to evoke unpleasant memories and immerse yourself in them.
• Practice some concentration exercises. This will help you to reject unpleasant thoughts and worries that steal away your peace of mind.
• Learn to practice meditation. Even a few minutes a day will make a change in your life.

Inner peace ultimately leads to external peace. By creating peace in our inner world, we bring it into the external world, affecting other people too.

[Source: Unknown, by Remez Sasson]

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The Power of Humility

Humility invites us to surrender our own willful struggles and seek partnership, guidance and direction from God in service to the greater good of humanity. It opens us up to levels of consciousness where we understand that, in our highest form, we are merely instruments of the Divine.

In choosing to set aside the arrogance, stubbornness and fearful thoughts of the individual mind, we nurture humility and transform the way in which we view the world. With humble hearts and egos in check, we receive the gift of our own inherent worthiness and gain access to the expansive realms of the collective will.

In the blessed state of humility, we pray for assistance, and become spiritually malleable, ready to be shaped by God’s hands for the fulfillment of our soul’s desire and purpose.

Today's affirmation : God can do for me what I cannot do for myself.

Keeping your EGO balanced is key to Success in Life ... a lesson in humility is what we need to learn every day ...

Let's look little deep inside , the best way to introspect and reflect ... ask yourself few questions and journal your thoughts ...

Where or how in your life are you displaying the arrogance of your ego? Where or how are you feeling puffed up, standing in judgment of others, or trying to impose your will on situations?
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

What are the fearful thoughts or non-serving beliefs are causing you to be stubborn in situations or to believe that you know what’s best for yourself and everyone involved?

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

What would be different if you brought humility and asked for God’s help? How much more peace, clarity and creativity would be available? How would giving up your ego’s will help to move you closer to the fulfillment of your soul’s desire?

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

What internal structure or practice can you put in place to support shifting out of the arrogance of the ego and into God’s hands?

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

What is an action you can take or a structure or practice you can put in place in your external world to support you in nurturing new levels of humility? What do you need to do differently or how do you need to shift your actions or communications to allow humility to develop and grow in your life?

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

[Source: Unknown]

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Focus on Your Primary Aim

As we go through life we have many goals we wish to accomplish. Sometimes our wants are so numerous they seem to overwhelm us -- we don't know how to do them all at once.

The solution? Focus on our goals one at a time until we accomplish them all. Carry a list of your goals with you everywhere. Individuals will be on your path, who - when you show them your goals - may be able to help you achieve them.

Action Step:

To see our dreams come true we need to discover the natural talents we were born with. Think about the things that you love to do, things that make you feel like a million bucks, things that you really don't have to try too hard at to be successful.

For example, when I stand in front of an auditorium filled with thousands of people, and speak to them about fulfilling their dreams, my mind and body are filled with energy -- so much that I'm practically buzzing all over.

When I'm speaking to people I'm so excited I can hardly stand still. Speaking and writing are my right livelihood. I love it and it loves me.

To discover your strengths, ask yourself a few questions, like:

1. What are some activities that I excel at without a lot of effort, study or preparation?

2. What do I do well that most people find difficult?

3. What skills do I have that makes people make "wow!" comments and compliments?

4. If I had all the money I could ever spend -- meaning money is not a concern -- what would I do?

Take this list of activities and on a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being what you feel you're most talented at) rank these activities. Your biggest rewards will come from the activities you've ranked 7 and higher.

Once you have your top activities -- you should have 5 or fewer -- choose the one you love to do the most, because that is your primary aim. Over a lifetime, a well-chosen primary aim tends to extend itself into many possibilities.

Yours in success,

Live a Beautiful Life

[Source: markvictorhansen.com, by Mark Victor Hansen]

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How Do You Attract Opportunity Into Your Life?

Someone recently asked me the question: "How can I have more opportunities come into my life?" Good question, but I think my answer surprised them a bit.

I bypassed the obvious (and necessary) points about hard work, persistence and preparation. They actually were very hard workers. And they had the great attribute of being seekers, they were on the outlook. But I felt maybe they were missing this next and most valuable point - attraction.

I always thought opportunities and success were something you went after, then I found out that I needed to turn it around. Opportunities and success are not something you go after necessarily, but something you attract - by becoming an attractive person.

That's why I teach development of skills. If you can develop your skills, keep refining all the parts of your character and yourself, your health, your relationships, etc. so that you become an attractive person to the marketplace - you'll attract opportunity.

Opportunity will probably seek you out. Your reputation will probably precede you and someone will want to do business with you. All of the possibilities are there by working on the philosophy that success is something you attract.

The key is to continue making yourself a more attractive person by the skills you have, the disciplines you have, the personality you've acquired, the character and reputation you have established, the language and speech you use

Personal development - the never-ending chance to improve not only yourself, but also to attract opportunities and affect others.

To Your Success,

Live a Beautiful Life

[Source: jimrohn.com, by Jim Rohn]

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He Made Him Captain

One of my best friends coached a group of 13 year old boys in soccer a while back. He saw some leadership potential in one of the boys but he also saw some disturbing qualities. My friend approached the boy and told him that he thought he could be captain of the team but he wanted to see changes in some of his behaviors.

Almost overnight, the boy stopped his whining and complaining. He became responsible and an effective leader. Today, he is the captain of the soccer team and parents who have known this kid for years are asking my friend what he did to transform him.

My friend didn't do anything other than tell someone that he believed in him and thought he could do better. When was the last time you told someone that you believed in them? You can criticize until the cows come home.

However, if you want to see lasting change... find the positives in a person and reinforce those. When you do those qualities will grow and overshadow the less desirable qualities. For an overnight transformation... find positives and make them captain!

[Source: ronwhitetraining.com, by Ron White]

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Inspiration Can Be Found Anywhere at Anytime

Inspiration is not a stop-start process. It's like a spigot you just can't turn off. When you have it, you have lots of it. But when you don't have it, it might seem that no matter what you do, that spigot is just never going to crank on again.

Have faith. Inspiration, in and of itself, never stops. It's up to us, then, to step aside from blocking it. To ignite your awareness of inspiration, look into subjects and topics that interest you.

Read inspiring stories; research the people who inspire you. Oftentimes you will find that they, too, struggled with turning on that inspiration spigot ... but they always found a way through.

Action Step:

See, there is nothing different between you and your heroes. That's why you're attracted to the qualities they possess - something about them resonates with something inside of you. Do as they have done to resonate with inspiration.

Act as they have acted to turn that "inspiration spigot" on. Before you know it, you'll be back in that inspired mode!

Yours in Success,

Live a Beautiful Life

[Source: megabookmarketing.com, by Mark Victor Hansen]

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On Competition

Why don't more people build powerful partnerships today? Doesn't it make sense that you leverage your power when you build partnerships with supportive, powerful people? And that you increase your success, while minimizing the effort it takes to achieve what you want?

I believe that part of the answer is that we are conditioned to compete with one another.

One of the most striking facts that my research revealed is that truly successful people never compete. The reason successful people avoid competition is that when you compete, you limit yourself and restrict your ability to create.

Consider the kinds of thoughts that must be created for competition. You must:

1. Compare yourself to your "adversary," and think that someone will win and the other must lose.
2. Believe that there is a limited supply of goodness and success.

Both of these thoughts are in error, and completely out of alignment with the Super Laws. Your success, or lack of it, comes directly from your own thoughts, feelings and actions.

Other people have no power to keep you from your good. So the only real competition you will ever have in life is the competition between the positive thoughts of your disciplined mind and the negative thoughts of your undisciplined mind.

You are only in competition with yourself.

If you must have an adversary, let that adversary be lack of understanding. That is the only thing that will slow your success.

Resolve this week to more fully discipline your mind, to focus your will power, to keep your eyes on "the prize" you want to create to the exclusion of everything else!

To your continued wealth and happiness,

Live a Beautiful Life

[Source: harmonicwealth.com, by James Arthur Ray]

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Purpose, Vision And Goals

Do you have a definite purpose that guides your ambitions, vision, and goals?

It doesn't matter how you think you arrived here on this planet or under whose direction -- the fact remains that each of us has specific talents and gifts that are uniquely coded within our own DNA.

As you go through life, you don't just pick up things you like doing by chance. You discover what you're good at because you were meant to discover it, just as you were meant to figure out what your fingers do, and how your elbows work. Your unique gifts are hardwired into your system just as surely as your lungs are given their blueprint to breathe.

And it's from these specific talents and gifts that you're able to define and determine your definite purpose... the reason why you're here. What's in you cannot be found in another living human being.

In fact, it's quite possible that what you bring to the table hasn't been duplicated -- ever -- since time began.

That's right! This "purpose" is serious business.

If you fail to determine your definite purpose, everything else is wrong.

It's like working with a broken compass -- you may think you're going North, but you're not. You're not sure which direction you're heading, so, you're just wandering aimlessly.

Without your purpose identified firmly in your mind, you will wander through life, never quite feeling that you're "in the flow." I say, then, that it's imperative you recognize what it is you're good at -- what it is you really love to do.

Your purpose in this lifetime is to do the thing that you love.

People will tell you they already know what they're good at, and what they love to do most, but they'll never earn money doing it. Whoever gave you that idea? When you're sorting out your purpose, I don't want you thinking about THAT non-issue at all.

You can earn money at anything. Once you determine your purpose, you won't even have to think hard on how to earn money -- it's as if you're being guided by an unseen hand, heading in the right direction... and everything falls into place.

The key to your life is not that you settle for the "safe" thing that will bring in the money. The key is to turn and do what you really love. Fall in love with an idea. That's your life! That's your purpose.

[Source: sixminutestosuccess.com, by Bob Proctor]

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Setbacks are Lessons

"Slow and steady wins the race." It's not glamorous, but it's true. The tragedy is that most people never even get in the race, and many of those who do hope that success comes easily and swiftly.

When it doesn't, they're out of the race, before it really begins. What they don't realize is that the decision to be unstoppable is never made just once. It is made moment by moment, again and again.

Setbacks are inevitable. In fact, they're evidence that we're doing something. The more mistakes we make, the greater our chance of success. Failures indicate a willingness to experiment and take risks.

Unstoppable women and men have learned that each failure brings wisdom and insight that will take them one step closer to achieving their dreams. When we focus on one unstoppable moment at a time and stay the course, the end result will take care of itself.

It's important to remind ourselves that failure is an event, not a person. If you don't achieve your 30-day goal, does that make you a failure? If you don't get a promotion at work, does that make you a failure? If you get married and then divorced, does that make you a failure? Of course not!

Failure doesn't characterize who you are. It is simply an event that happens to you. And when you continue to move forward, despite difficult experiences, you have already won!

Action: Find the gift in the setback

The next time the outcome you had hoped for doesn't transpire, look for the gift. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What can I learn from what happened?
2. What am I grateful for about this experience?
3. What are the potential benefits of this experience?
4. What is the best way for me to move forward?

Commit to finding the gift in any setback. And in advance, tell yourself that you will never, never, never quit. If you don't give up, you simply cannot fail. Not only will you achieve your dreams, but the combination of your commitment, courage, and faith will rise as the greatest triumph of all.

[Source: yoursuccessstore.com, by Cynthia Kersey]

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The Greatest Salesman in the World

by Og Mandino

Only principles endure and these I now possess, for the laws that will lead me to greatness are contained in the words of these scrolls.

Principle #1 – Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

Keep it always in mind and you will overcome seemingly impossible obstacles that are certain to confront you as they do everyone with ambition. Never feel shame for trying and failing for he who has never failed is he who has never tried.

Principle #2 – I will form good habits and become their slave.

If I must be a slave to habit let me be a slave to good habits.
My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed.
Each principle in these scrolls will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which brings me closer to success.
For it is another of nature’s laws that only a habit can subdue another habit.
As I repeat the words daily contained in these scrolls they will soon become a part of my active mind.
Eventually I will find myself reacting to all situations which confront me as I was commanded in the scrolls to react.
Thus a new and good habit is born.

Principle #3 – I will greet this day with love in my heart.

Love is the greatest secret of success in all ventures.
I will laud my enemies and they will become my friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become my brothers.
Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip.
I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they be hidden.
But how will I react to the adversity of others? With love.
For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger.

Principle #4 – I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered into this world in defeat, nor does failure course through my veins.
I am not a sheep waiting to be led to the slaughter.
I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep.
I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good.
I will persist with knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for success at the next attempt.

Principle #5 – I will increase my knowledge of the world.

Within me burns a flame which has been passed from generations uncounted and its heat is a constant irritation to my spirit to become better than I am, and I will.
I will increase my knowledge of mankind, myself, and the goods I sell, thus my sales will multiply.
I will practice, and improve, and polish the words I utter to sell my goods, for this is the foundation on which I will build my career… Also I will seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.
I have been given eyes to see and a mind to think and now I know a great secret of life for I perceive, at last, that all my problems are in truth great opportunities in disguise.

Principle #6 – I will live this day as if it is my last.

Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.
Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow.
Should I torment myself with problems that may never come to pass? No!
I will avoid with fury the killers of time.
Procrastination I will destroy with action; doubt I will bury under faith; fear I will dismember with confidence.
The duties of today I shall fulfill today. I will maketh every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value.
And if this day is not my last, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.

Principle #7 – Today I will be master of my emotions.

All nature is a cycle of moods and I am a part of nature and so, like the tides, my moods will rise; my moods will fall.
If I bring joy and enthusiasm and brightness and laughter to my customers they will react with joy and enthusiasm and brightness and
laughter and my weather will produce a harvest of sales and a granary of gold for me.
Weak is he who permits his emotions to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his emotions.

If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I become overconfident I will recall my failures.
If I feel complacency I will remember my competition.

I will master my moods through positive action and when I master my moods I will control my destiny.

Principle #8 – I will laugh at the world.

I will chuckle and my burdens will be lightened; I will laugh and my life will be lengthened for this is the great secret of long life.
And most of all, I will laugh at myself for man is most comical when he takes himself too seriously.
Four words I will train myself to say until they become a habit so strong that immediately they will appear in my mind whenever good humor threatens to depart from me.
These four words are: This too shall pass.
And with my laughter all things will be reduced to their proper size.
I will laugh at my failures and they will vanish in clouds of new dreams; I will laugh at my successes and they will shrink to their true value.

Principle #9 – Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.

And how will I accomplish this? First I will set goals for the day, the week, the month, the year, and my life.
Just as the rain must fall before the wheat will crack its shell and sprout, so must I have objectives before my life will crystallize.
The height of my goals will not hold me in awe.
If I stumble I will rise and my falls will not concern me for all men must stumble often to reach the hearth.
I will always announce my goals to the world.
I will always raise my goals as soon as they are attained.
Yet, never will I proclaim my accomplishments.
Let the world instead, approach me with praise and may I have the wisdom to receive it in humility.

Principle #10 – I will act now.

My dreams are worthless, my plans are dust, my goals are impossible.
All are of no value unless they are followed by action.
I will act now.
I will act now.
I will act now.

Henceforth, I will repeat these words again and again each day until the words become as much a habit as my breathing and the actions which follow become as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids.
Only action determines my value in the market place and to multiply my value I will multiply my actions.
I will walk where the failure fears to walk.
I will work when the failure seeks rest. Success will not wait. If I delay she will become betrothed to another.

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Stop Thinking "If Only"

"If only I could get a better break."
"If only I had some money."
"If only I would've married the right person."
"If only I worked for the right company."
"If only I had the right parents."

Do you pull back from taking full personal responsibility for yourself? Many of us do. We think that a parent, a teacher, a friend, a boss, a spouse, the company we worked for, or some governmental program should shoulder our burden for turning our lives into what we want them to be.

This approach can't get the job done. Other people and organizations have too many pressing challenges and priorities of their own.

What does this mean? That you'll always be disappointed when you depend on others for the things you must do for yourself.

It's so easy to justify the temptations of freeloading, to slide into being a follower, to fail to see the hidden price tag in the handout. Unless you take complete control of your life and assume full personal responsibility for yourself, who will? No one will.

Every dollar you earn is worth ten given to you. Earned money creates the self-image of self-reliance; given money creates the self-image of other-dependence. This is why some families stay on welfare for generations.

Hangers-on and free-loaders are the most frustrated people on earth because they have created their own frustrations. You can't be successful and happy until you earn the respect of the toughest, hardest to fool, and most important judge in the world: yourself.

[Source: tomhopkins.com, by Tom Hopkins]

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