Powerful Principles of Personal Growth

Overwhelming Lately…

Things been a bit Overwhelming lately? I know what you mean… life can often appear that way. No worries though because no matter how chaotic things might seem right now, it's a great feeling to know that we have the ability to regain control in an instant.

In my experience, whenever things get overwhelming, it usually means that I've misplaced my compass. Somewhere along the path of life, the road got a bit blurry and I went off the calculated route.

In these times, I've always found it helpful and effective to do the following 5 things which always get me right back on track.

1. Take a Breather…

It shouldn't amaze you that most of us don't ever take the time we need to just breathe. I mean really take in a deep breath or two to regain your composure and collect your thoughts. When you're feeling overwhelmed, your thoughts are usually all over the place and you have no clue if you're coming or going.

It is very important just to take a step back and then look at what's happening with fresh eyes. If you find it necessary, have someone you love and trust take a look for you and provide constructive feedback. Sometimes a good talk with a loved one or friend is all you need to put things into perspective.

The challenge that we often run into is the belief that we don't have time to stop and breathe. Nothing could be further from the truth. Trust me, we aren't so important to the grand scheme of moving the world that we can't slow down and reset. In fact, we do the entire world a disservice when we choose not to do this because we cannot operate at our best when we feel like we're drowning.

So, hit pause every once in a while – stop, look and listen and then continue. Trust me; the world will be fine for just a moment without us to run it.

2. Refresh Priorities

Once you've taken a breather, it's the perfect time to re-look at your priorities. Sometimes things become quickly overwhelming because we allow other people's priorities to become ours and it throws us off our game plan.

We all have a way of projecting our interests onto one another; we expect others to support our causes unconditionally. Ideally, that is an incredible thing; however, you just never know what is going on in another person's life. What this means is that it is very important for you to stay focused on your mission no matter what.

There's nothing we can do about other people's choices; however, we certainly have control over how we respond to what life throws at us. We have the ultimate power of choice. In refreshing your priorities, make sure you reevaluate your mission and what it will take to achieve it. Once you've identified your priorities, it is important to simply execute around them without fail.

Of course you can do other things just as long as they don't come at the cost of your true mission. Identify your priorities and stick with them.

3. Communicate Your Intent

This applies especially when you're working with others. Often times when things get overwhelming, there are way too many people involved than there needs to be. Or, at the very least people are involved in ways they ought not to be in order to achieve effective results.

In these situations, it is extremely important that you clearly and concisely communicate your intent. When you're working with others, harmony is derived from effective communication. The more clearly you can communicate what is going on with you along with your expectations, the more impacting the results you'll achieve.

The moment that a group of people working together get on the same page, chaos turns into order. Also, many times when you revisit the mission or goal with the team, you learn things that you didn't know before that may have impeded your success. For instance, people begin having what we call "aha" moments. Often times, the disarray you were feeling quickly evaporates when this happens.

It can be as simple as saying "Hey guys, wait a minute. I thought we were doing X, so how come all of a sudden we're doing Y?" A statement like that makes everyone put on the brakes and allow time for the brain to process and respond accordingly. Once this happens, you can do step number 2 together and Refresh Your Priorities from a team standpoint.

4. Let Some Things Go

It's ok to let some things go. I know that it can seem hard at times to do this; however, think about it deeply for a moment. Why are you holding on to some of the things you are? What is more important?

The point of letting go is to give you more brain power, creativity and tenacity to focus on the things that matter most. You don't have to champion every little thing – just stick to what is important to you.

Sure, do what you can do but don't let things bog you down to the point where you lose your way. It's ok to say NO.

Set your attention on your circle of influence and put your circle of concern on the back burner. Stick with the things upon which you have the most influence – where you can make the most impactful, long-lasting and positive difference.

So often it's the little things that end up overwhelming us and all we have to do is let go. It's that simple.

5. Do Your Best and Forget the Rest

One of the toughest things for people to do is to let go and be ok with it. At the end of the day, you have to simply do what's true for you and learn to live with the consequences. What this means is that as long as you believe in what you are doing; that it represents your core values and you truly believe it's the right thing then ok… just do it and let the rest be.

Whatever you choose to do, just do it to the best of your ability and know that it is good enough. In fact, it's better than good enough, it's the best – YOU are the best.

We all have to deal with the consequences of our choices so just do your best to make good choices and principle says that you will always reap great benefits.

When things get Overwhelming… and they do… practicing these 5 things always help me get back on track. I truly hope that they do the same for you.

From Dean's Library

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7 Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

A while ago, I wrote an article titled, The Secret to Personal Change, wherein I defined and outlined a blueprint for making effective changes in your life. I hope, if you've read it, you really got some value out of it. If not, I highly recommend that you do after reading this one to further put things in perspective for you.

The goal of this article is to bring a deeper sense of realism and relativity to Personal Change. By definition, this type of change is well – PERSONAL. In this vein, I have decided to share some of the powerful lessons that truly helped me to make effective personal changes in my life.

Some of them were really harsh – at least I thought so at the time; however, I wouldn't trade those moments for anything. They have been instrumental in my growth and I am truly grateful.

These lessons are all true examples from my personal experience. I truly hope that you draw some value from these as it pertains to your own journey.

Not quite sure I'm ready for this but here goes…

Powerful Lesson #1: Get off your high horse

One of my major growing pains has been how to remain humble at all times. It's still a struggle for me sometimes because I am just naturally a cocky guy. Seriously, I work on this constantly… SURPRISED?

It's been such a staple part of who I am that on one job interview, the interviewer actually started the interview by saying "Hey Dean, look – I know you're smart, articulate and have excellent communication skills. I mean you're a dynamo and I just know you'd do a great job. There's just one little thing that bothers me about you and I think we ought to clear that up right now. You strike me as just a bit too cocky. What do you have to say about that?"

Can you imagine that being the first statement followed by that question in an interview? Well, it really did happen. I did get the job though… pheww.

Here's one of my greatest lessons in humility – getting knocked off my high horse.

I took a facilitation/presentation skills class once with 2 of my favorite teachers – Chris Baran and Sam Villa. In preparation for this class, they asked us to bring a presentation that we'd be doing in the near future – something we had to get ready for.

The whole time I was preparing, all I kept thinking about was what I was going to wear, what I was going to say, how I was going to look, how I was going to sound and what I was going to do. I, I, I, see a pattern here?

Needless to say that when it was finally my turn to present – I just knew I was going to ace it and look pretty good in front of my teachers and my peers. Not sure how or when it happened but somewhere between good afternoon and I am here to… I totally lost it. I began to lose my train of thought and forget what I was supposed to say. I was so focused on yup – ME – that I totally forgot who the presentation was really for.

To drive home the lesson, Sam suggested that I do the presentation again sitting down. As I started, he asked me to get up and he'd stack another chair on top of my chair. Every 15 seconds or so as I continued to deliver my presentation, he added another chair to the stack. It got to the point where it was totally comical because my feet could no longer reach the ground. I ended up laughing really hard at myself and the whole room had a pretty good laugh at my expense as well.

Once I came down from my high horse, Sam simply said "Dean, it's ok to live down here with the rest of us. It's not about you – it's about them. "You already know your stuff so whenever you deliver your presentation remember that the focus isn't you, it's your audience. You've successfully delivered your presentation when the audience gets it."

Wow… not fun at the beginning but makes perfect sense and it was quite funny by the end. Since that day, I have worked to make sure that not only during presentations but at all times consider others first.

Not that I never ever get on my high horse; however, this is a lesson in personal change I will never forget and always apply to my everyday life.

Powerful Lesson #2: Nobody likes a Mr. Know-it-all

This story comes from an experience I had after getting my first car.

I had just recently picked up my ALMOST new Saab Turbo 9000; very beautiful automobile if you're into cars. A few months after getting it, I was involved in an automobile accident that basically totaled my ALMOST new and vey cool Saab Turbo 9000. (Man was I… well you know. )

The good news here was that the accident was clearly not my fault. Some guy was so busy on his cell phone that he went right through a steady red light and slammed into the passenger side of my ride. It was even scarier because my niece was asleep in the back seat and her father, my brother, was in the front passenger seat. He was not a happy camper – to say the least.

In any case, the police arrived on the scene and began taking statements. As the officer took mine, I explained to him that I was going about 35 mph. Once I said that he repeated what I said back to me saying "So you were going about 30 mph…" To which I said, NO, I said I was doing about 35 mph. To which he again repeated "right, so you were doing about 30 mph…" Once again, in a slightly annoyed tone because I felt I wasn't being heard, I said, NO, I was doing about 35 mph. And this time the officer simply replied "OK, if that's the way you want it."

I didn't realize it at the time but I was shooting myself in the foot. As it turned out, my insurance company paid me in full for the damages to my car; however, I totally missed the boat on the other driver's insurance company.

I ended up getting 50% less than I would have from the other guy's insurance company because the city speed limit is 30 mph and since I insisted I was going 35 mph, I buried myself with my own admission.

Once I realized this, something my father used to say came ringing in my ear… "Sometimes it's better to be thought of as a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." All I had to do was shut my mouth and listen and all would have been fine.

And the moral of this lesson in personal change is – LISTEN, LISTEN, and LISTEN! Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to let other people talk while you simply shut up and listen. This is a key element in effective communication.

Powerful Lesson #3: Do what's true for you and learn to live with the consequences

This was one of the hardest lessons in personal change for me; it's the one that totally changed the course of my life.

For years before I started this blog, I was partners with one of my good friends. We'd started a music production company together – even made some pretty great music. You can check out our last production together here.

Aside from the music business though, we embarked on several more business ventures together. Through it all, there were times when I knew that it wasn't what I really wanted to do; however, I kept saying yes and going along because I felt like I owed it to my friend. Somehow, we became joined at the hip and it made me feel like everything I was going to do had to be with him as my business partner. Even he thought the same and never shied away from letting me know how he felt.

It literally took years before I had the courage to face him and say NO, I have to go my own way. It was through discovering my true purpose that I finally had the confidence and courage to tell my good friend exactly how I felt and what I needed to do. I knew that it would hurt; however, I had finally realized that what I really owed my friend was the truth.

I owed it to myself to be truthful about my desires and I needed to tell him exactly how I felt and live with the consequences. Today, I wouldn't say that we aren't friends anymore; however, things are certainly not like they used to be. We don't talk as much or even at all and we don't hang out together anymore.

The one thing I can tell you is that I haven't regretted telling him the truth and starting my own journey not one day since… it was one of the best decisions I ever made about changing my life.

Powerful Lesson #4: What a hypocrite!

This powerful lesson in personal change definitely hit close and deep for me. It was definitely a major defining moment and milestone in my life.

I am Jamaican by birth; I moved to the United States with my family when I was 12 years old. Where I am from, it is culturally unacceptable to engage in homosexual activity of any kind. In fact, people have been seriously hurt and even killed because of their sexual orientation.

Now, while my parents did not raise me and my siblings to hate anyone for any reason, it was still acceptable for us to be disapproving of homosexuals. No one was going to reprimand us because we didn't like gay people.

There was a time in my life when I openly showed my disapproval and even disdain for homosexuals. This was simply a part of my conditioning. This remained the case until about my mid-twenties when I began working in New York City and experiencing different people and cultures.

Gradually I became more open and tolerant. It was not until I started working for L'Oreal USA in 2003 though that the flood gates really opened. I was suddenly working in an environment where homosexuality was not only tolerated, it was the norm. No one cared about sexual orientation.

I had never really looked back on who I was; at this point in my life I was much more open and tolerant of all individuals. I had read so many books, been to so many places and met so many different people that I had already started to believe that it is ok to be who you are… no matter who you are. You're perfect just the way you are.

The defining moment in all this came one day when I was talking to a group of colleagues and friends and the subject of homosexuality came up. For the most part, the group I was with was not tolerant of homosexuality and wondered how I could work with people who are homosexuals.

It was in this moment, I realized what a HYPOCRITE I had been. Here I was, not only working with homosexuals but many of them were now people I count among my friends. This knowing not only how I used to be but also that I was once a target of intolerance. When I first came to this country, I was frequently the target of racism and indifference. And in true hypocritical form, I had visited this same intolerance and indifference on others because they were different from me.

Yes, I said it – I was a hypocrite indeed!

Today, I no longer hang out with people whom I know are intolerant of anyone just because they are different. I am proud to count all my friends as my friends regardless of whom they are or whom they choose to love. I am blessed with many friends from all different walks of life and for that I am eternally grateful.

This was one of my most powerful lessons in personal change.

Powerful Lesson #5: Do it my way – Hard Knock PhD

If I had to measure my life by the degrees on my wall, I'd have to say I have what I refer to as a PhD in Hard Knocks. This is the corner stone to my personal journey.

While I was a good student – at times even a great student – I decided early on in my undergrad years to forego school and become a student of life. In this vein, I left school after I received my 2-year degree from Kingsborough Community College.

In my gut, I just knew that I wanted more right now and for me, school was not providing what I was thirsting for. It was around this time in my life that I first began my passionate pursuit of personal growth and development.

Hard Knock PhD refers to the numerous and invaluable life lessons I have learned since then. These are the lessons that molded me into the man I am today. I would not be where I am without these lessons.

Through the lessons that life has taught me, I have been able to accomplish many of my goals and achieve success in many ways. I have been able to work on Wall Street and Main Street holding numerous management positions.

There is absolutely nothing special about dropping out of school; however, there is definitely something special in following your spirit. In other words, I did it my way – I used what works for me to achieve the goals that I've set.

It was hard at first to accept the road I'd chosen; I had many harsh critics. My dad was not at all pleased with my decision. In fact, for years, there was this open-ended cliffhanger as to whether or not I'd return to school. It was not until I recognized why I chose to do what I did that it instantly became a breeze. Once I was ok with why I chose to do things the way I did, the rest was simply a matter of choice and execution. There was nothing I couldn't do. Even when many people said NO, I remained positive and in almost every case proved the naysayers wrong.

The bottom line in this lesson of personal change is that while life may bring you many hard knocks, you can keep moving forward as long as you learn from them. One of the greatest assets that I have always had in my arsenal is the power to recognize the lessons of life and learn from them.

Let me put it like this…

While many people put so much stock in the fact that I do not have an undergraduate degree, I never let that fact hold me back.

When I got my job on Wall Street, many naysayers couldn't believe it. When I started working at the top beauty company in the world, many naysayers couldn't believe that either. When I made the seemingly insurmountable leap within this same prestigious company from Finance to Marketing… most were stunned to say the least. In fact, what I was told when I expressed my interest in marketing was that "it simply doesn't happen – no one jumps from Finance to marketing."

Well, I am living proof that it not only can happen – it did happen.

Again, I am not special because I did these things… I am pointing out these examples to help drive the lesson home that life is what you make it not the other way around. I found a way to get where I needed to go by adding value in the best way I knew how. I am a constant student of life and therefore I have become keenly aware of what others need and whenever and wherever I can, I help them get it.

Powerful Lesson #6: Whose story is it anyway?

This lesson comes from one of my great friends and mentor, Ann Mincey. She's been integral to my personal growth and development over the years and I cherish her friendship and guidance.

I first met Ann at a company function in the spring of 2006 (I think ). Although I had heard about her I had never had the opportunity. Also, I was a tag-along to a function I wasn't even officially invited to. This was already a great story in the making.

In any case, when Ann Mincey finally walked through the doors, she made a B-line straight for me. She politely introduced herself and then simply asked "So what's your story and what brought you to us?" I was taken aback for a moment and then realized she was actually waiting for me to respond. She was serious… she wanted to hear my story.

So, I told her and she replied "Thank you and welcome to our family." She followed that up with the most heartwarming hug I had ever received from a stranger. Well, I'm not so sure she was still a stranger by the end of our conversation because that hug made me feel like part of her family.

You see, that is Ann's greatest gift in my view – to make others instantly feel loved like part of her family. She was genuinely interested in me… my story.

This is the moment when I realized how important it is not to project our stories unto others. I learned that in order to truly be of service to others, you must genuinely want to hear and understand their story so that you know how to truly help them.

Ann is my dear friend and I credit her with this powerful lesson in my personal change.

Powerful Lesson #7: Slow your roll

Sometimes you just have to know when to pump your brakes and take a step back. Look at the landscape and understand the terrain before you go charging in.

After accepting a management position in sales, I was charged with ideas of how to grow the business. I was so gong-ho and so driven that I forgot that there were other people with ideas who had been there long before I arrived.

Of course, in true Dean fashion, I charged in full blast trying to get it all done with lots of energy and enthusiasm. Boy were those first few months painful. I was often left wondering "what's going on here? Is it me? Am I doing something wrong?"

All my intentions were good and some of my ideas were pretty good too but I was getting nowhere fast. What the hell was I missing? A screw or two as it turned out.

After a few months of running into a brick wall, one of my team members took me aside and said "Dean, you're great and you have great ideas but you're trying too hard." What's worse is that you're not including anyone else in your plans – you're alienating the most important people, our clients."

All I could think to myself was – DUH!

Here I was busy trying to change the world and I didn't have a clue what our clients were thinking or what they really wanted. I was ready to tell them how we're going to do it; however, I wasn't listening to what they wanted to do.

Of course, after this intervention by my teammate (Thank you Elika), it wasn't hard to see what was wrong with my approach. Once I recognized and changed it and started listening to our client's needs, a lot of things started to go much more smoothly. In fact, with this particular group, our team has a very strong bond and we often achieve results that exceed expectations. All I had to do was slow my roll – another powerful lesson in personal change.

I could probably share some more stories from my experience and I am sure you can think of some from your own. The bottom line is that I truly hope that you got something out of this – I hope that some of my experiences help to put yours in perspective.

I can say with certainty that I have enjoyed my journey; all of these experiences and many more have been great teachers for me. As I continue to learn and grow, I am sure there will be many more to come.

Here's to your greatness and your own Personal Change journey.

 

From Dean's Library

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21 Powerful Tips to Make Your Everyday Life a Breeze

Even though we don't always know what will come our way on a daily basis; we can choose how we deal with whatever comes. In our everyday life we have the power to choose how we live each and every moment.

Following are 21 powerful tips to make your everyday life a breeze. These are in no particular order and as simple as some of them may seem, they truly work wonders when put into practice.

1. Give Thanks

This is the first and last thing that I practice to do everyday – well most of the time anyway.

Showing gratitude for what you have is a great and uplifting way to start and end your day on a positive note. It puts you in the right mindset so you can be happier throughout the day and have peace of mind when you slumber. The more grateful we are, the more we get to be grateful for.

2. Give You

Give something no one else can – YOU. Just make sure it's the real you, genuine and authentic. We all have a unique greatness to give to the world and the more of that you endeavor to give to the world, the happier you will be.

3. Smile

As my wife so eloquently puts it; S.M.I.L.E. – See More In Life Everyday. Ever notice how when you smile at others, most of the time they smile right back? That's because smiling is contagious and it makes people feel good inside. It releases certain chemicals in the body that just makes you feel so darn good. So just smile and mean it and you'll be happier everyday.

4. Help Someone Else

There's simply nothing more fulfilling than helping someone else to get what he/she wants or needs. Helping others is most powerful when you help without expectation of compensation. That is the true definition of serving others and it always feels incredible.

5. Pay It Forward

Just as helping someone else is fulfilling so is paying it forward. When someone touches your life and you return that gift by touching someone else's, it is truly a beautiful thing. And again, it feels tremendous. Your everyday life will significantly improve if you constantly seek to pay it forward – give back as a way of saying thank you.

6. Laugh at Yourself

Please don't take yourself so seriously. Life is too short so laugh at yourself. When you can laugh at yourself it means that you're not obsessed with perfection and that you realize that you're perfect just the way you are – flawed.

7. Let Stuff Go

This is definitely important for a happier life PERIOD! Many people believe that forgiveness is for the forgiven; however, it really is for the person doing the forgiving. Letting stuff go ensures that you can move on without ill feelings that perpetuate negative emotions. So, just let it go.

We have a rule on my team – doesn't work so well at home right now – BUT – on my team we either address an issue within 24 hours of its occurrence or we agree to let it go without prejudice. One simple rule that works wonders; try it.

8. Keep It Real

Just don't sugar coat things to the point where reality gets watered down. It's ok to be empathetic; however, make sure you still keep it real… say it like it is with kindness and learn to live with the consequences. Believe me; you're better off telling it like it is and living with those consequences than obscuring the real deal and having to deal with the ensuing fall out.

Most importantly, be vigilant about not lying to yourself; especially about who you are. Unless you know and accept who you truly are, you will be hard-pressed to know how to become who you truly want to be.

9. Love More

Way too much hate in the world that sucks up way too much energy that could be used for more positive endeavors. Your everyday life instantly improves in amazing ways when you project nothing but love. Wish the best for all and truly mean it and you'll see far better results that participating in the opposite.

Ever notice how the more down you are the universe works harder to keep you down? And conversely the more up you are, the universe works harder to keep you up? This is the natural law of love so just love more.

10. Judge Less

No assumptions, no preconceived notions and no JUDGEMENT. When you judge, you end up having to make justifications for your position which only leads to more judging which gets very negative very fast.

11. Have Faith

Have faith in yourself, others and in the infinite possibilities of the best of everything. It sounds lofty – I know; however, it is truly a powerful feeling when you make it a habit.

12. Have Fun

This one goes without saying. I mean if you aren't having fun, then you're not smiling and projecting positivity. Just imagine having fun everyday with what you do, where you go and the people you connect with. How awesome would that be?

Have fun and never work a day in your life again.

13. Exercise

Yes, we all know we should do this; however, how many of us really stay consistent. The fact is though that exercising can make you feel so much better about your day. It is an absolute brilliant start to your day because a good workout often puts you in the right mindset to face the rest of the day.

In my experience, I always feel great when I exercise consistently. Conversely, I don't feel so great when I slack off… if you've been there then you know what I mean.

14. Make Lists

Lists help keep you focused throughout your day. As we know, everyday life can throw so many different things at us. Lists help us stay on track and avert chaos.

15. Make Plans

Just as lists are important so are plans. It's interesting to notice how when you know exactly where you're going things always go a lot smoother. When you have a plan, it makes dealing with hiccups much more efficient and effective because you're not all over the place and confused.

16. Promise Less

No need to make so many promises; it doesn't make you a hero – especially if your mouth keeps writing checks that bounce. Making a promise is not as important as doing what needs to be done. You don't need to announce your good deeds; the properties of your deeds will do all the talking for you.

Besides, you could easily ruin your reputation by making promises you are unable to keep; however, no one ever got a bad rep for doing a good deed.

17. Deliver More

Even though you promise less, always deliver more. When you deliver more than is expected people never forget what you did. Not that you expect anything in return; however, this habit always returns more to you than you could have imagined. So, simply put – promise less and deliver more.

18. Follow Your Conscience, Not Your Heart

This might sound strange to you because the popular saying is "follow your heart." The truth is that even when people say that, what they most often mean is "follow your conscience."

This is because the heart governs your emotional center and we all know that our emotions don't always point us to the right thing to do. Emotionally, we are often torn; our conscience though – our spirit is our true compass.

That feeling you get deep down inside when you know something isn't right – that's your conscience speaking to you. Your everyday life will be so much better if you can follow your conscience.

19. Check Your Ego

Ok, Ok, I'm working on it.

Yes, it is not always about you. Most people are so busy thinking about themselves; they don't have time to think about you. Stop believing your own hype and focus on helping other people. Help others get what they want and you will get what you want.

Check your ego and you will learn a lot more through humility.

20. Seek Help

Just as it is important to be humble; it is also important to remember that no one is an island. We can't truly succeed alone so ask for help. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help. Just be sure you only seek help from qualified people to help you address your needs.

21. Love Yourself

This one is an obvious no-brainer but so often we forget to do it. Many people don't even know what it truly means to love themselves. Essentially, it means accepting, appreciating and approving of whom you truly are. Before you truly love others, you must first love yourself. If you don't love yourself, your everyday life will definitely stink.

Well, there you have it. A simple list that I am sure you can add to easily. These are just 21 tips that came to mind from my experience and the positive results I have been able to achieve through these powerful habits.

I truly hope they help you too.

From Dean's Library

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The True Definition of Faith

A while ago I wrote an article titled "Faith is Not Blind", wherein I stated that there is no such thing as blind faith. While I stand firm on the context in which I explained my thought process, I feel like there was something missed in that article – the True Definition of Faith.

The goal then of this article is to provide a simple outline of what faith truly is and how it works. This way, no matter how it is phrased or said, you will have a crystal clear picture of how it operates in our lives every day.

Let's Define Faith

The first thing to understand is that faith is not a physical thing; it is spiritual. It is an attitude; a state of being in the mind. Faith is not just about our religious experience but rather the DNA of our belief system. Those who have great faith always accomplish more than those who lack faith especially in oneself.

Why is this important?

This is important because in understanding the true definition of faith, we must recognize that simply believing in something does not completely define true faith. To put it simply you must believe period.

In a nutshell, Faith defined is your belief that you know that you know that what you believe IS and therefore unshakable.

I know… a bit tough to grasp. Let's see if we can crystallize for you the application of true faith.

The Principle of Faith

As with all principles – faith is unbiased and unchanging in its function. This means that we are the directors of how faith is applied to our lives. The life's blood of faith must flow from the vessel cultivating it. Just as a match can provide light during darkness or destroy a house; it is so with faith – it depends on who is controlling the vessel.

Let's dig deeper to get a clearer picture…

Negative Faith

Negative faith or misplaced faith emerges when we believe that there is another universal power other than GOOD. To think that one person's prayers are answered and another's ignored is to believe that the universal power that binds us all is one of bias…utterly ridiculous.

I mean, regardless of how you refer to the higher power in which you believe – I am certain you will find that no one believes there is any evil or negativity associated with such a power.

That being true – how then could there be anything but the existence of anything evil when the higher power is Omnipresent and Omnipotent? It's simple then…

Only negative faith – our misplaced faith could cause us to suffer and spread any misery. Simply put, it creates a major conflict in state of mind and being when your belief system is that there is the universal GOODNESS of God and also the universal EVIL of the devil. This means that you believe there is BAD in the world. This is negative faith.

Now, I am not naïve – certainly bad things happen all the time; however, it is not because evil exists, it is because the awareness of good and the leadership to adhere to it is lacking. Thus, where bad things happen, you will find a negative faith – the belief that EVIL exists and manifests on its own.

The truth is that GOOD and EVIL can only come about as a result of our state of mind and being… our level of faith.

Let's look at the flip side…

Positive Faith

Positive faith or rightly placed faith emerges when we believe that there is only one universal power without opposition. When we not only believe but know that we know that there is one universal mind, body and soul from which all thoughts, things and results flow – this is positive faith.

The true definition of faith is to affirm the universal GOODNESS and dispel any thoughts to the opposite. In other words, to overcome all the negativity in the world is to have positive faith.

The main roadblock for most when it comes to this concept is that they do not understand it and therefore find it difficult to believe. It has long been taught that there are opposing forces in the world because of the physical manifestation of man's actions.

This is why it is so imperative to understand and furthermore KNOW that all physical manifestations are born from the spirit of man. The universe only knows to do as we command it and therefore our thoughts and beliefs drive the universes physical manifestations.

The bottom line is that our thoughts and beliefs create the results we achieve.

Now, if you can believe that, imagine what the world would be like if we all also understood, believed and knew that the universal power that binds us all is only GOOD. There is no BAD but that which we create through our negative faith. It is through positive faith that we see the GOOD in our physical manifestations.

Let's look at prayer as an example…

Regardless of how you do it, if you pray with doubt, the results you achieve will be doubtful. Why is it that some prayers seem to be answered and others not? Do you really believe that the all-knowing power in the universe sits on a judge's bench and arbitrarily decides which prayers to answer and which ones not to?

Of course not!

The person who prays with conviction and confidence knowing that he/she has already receive the gifts of prayer will always see his/her goals manifest physically. So then, the opposite is also true; the person who prays with doubt and lack of confidence hoping that he/she receives what is requested may not always see his/her goals manifest physically.

Positive faith means that all good is a foregone conclusion and all that is left to see it manifest is to act in accordance with your faith knowing that the universal power that binds us all will create that which was commanded through faith.

The Application of Faith

There have been many instances in history where strong faith was credited for miraculous events. It cannot be disputed that where faith is strong great things happen.

The application of faith is simple; however, not as easily applied because most of us have been so conditioned to believe that it is limited. In order to apply faith to your life fully, it is crucial that you understand that faith is limitless. Through faith anything is possible and no boundaries exist.

All things are done unto you as you believe – ALL THINGS. This does not mean that we control other people's choices; however, it does mean that we are in control of how we respond to them… a full explanation of this concept is in another article I wrote here.

The true definition of faith says that if we ask, it shall be given to us. What this really means is that our state of being determines what the universe creates for us in the physical. All our needs and desires already exists in the spiritual, we only need demand it through our faith – and belief that the universe will procure it – and it shall be so.

Spiritual matter is all around us waiting to take form as soon as we command it to do so. If you can have positive faith in yourself, in your fellowmen and in the universe, you will see that ALL IS GOOD. This is the way to apply faith.

Faith by Design

Since faith is a principle built upon by belief it is important to understand that we are in control of our convictions. If we can become truly convinced that all that we need is available, then it shall be so.

I know… it sounds too simple BUT – it is true.

Mostly, the problem with this is that the concept of faith is either totally misunderstood or just too hard to believe in its simplicity. Either way, it produces negative and misplaced faith which in turn produces negative and misplaced results.

Faith by design means that we must endeavor to know that we know that all is good; that the universe will procure that which we command without question. He who believes that his prayer will automatically be answered receives as such because he walks in true faith.

When there exists in your mind no contradictions to your faith and you are convinced of its limitless power, then you will see the equivalent manifest in the physical. Faith by Design is no different from Growth by Design – it is a choice – YOUR CHOICE!

Pure faith is spiritual conviction; it means you embody an idea, a concept that is unshakable in its function and application. It is the way of your belief which fuels your faith. Essentially, to believe in any contradiction to your faith is to say that your faith can exist in opposition of itself. This simply cannot be.

The universe cannot oppose itself; this is the reason why all is good – all is available and only through our awareness of and belief that it will procure all our needs will it do so. This is the true definition of faith.

Pure Faith

Since the highest mental attitude of faith is often found in the religious setting, it is important to note that this is also where most often faith is limited. The reason is because more often than not, at least in my experience, the application of religion conditions its followers to believe that they are LESS than the higher power to which they pray.

Pure faith is exactly the opposite; it says that you are the higher power – we are all a part of the universal force that binds us all. This means that we all possess within us the incarnate spirit with the limitless power to create a world of our choosing.

When we believe that we are LESS, we make excuses for not behaving alike the same universal power that we acknowledge. In pure faith you understand and know that the universal truth is no different from the individual truth which is that our state of existence is our doing. If there were any contradictions to this then the universe would destroy itself because it cannot exist in opposition to itself nor can we.

Pure Faith then means that what you receive is not what is given to you but ONLY that which you are aware of, believe and have faith that you can have. In essence we give ourselves everything that we get – we only have to have faith and it shall be so. This is why you have to be careful what you wish for – because you have negative faith and think the worst all the time – that is all you will give yourself.

I truly hope that this article has given you a better understanding of the true definition of faith and that it helps you to achieve your goals.

 

 

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The Affirmation of “I AM”

The affirmation of "I AM" reflects the essence of all manifestations in our lives. Essentially, it is the core of the principle of Choice – the ultimate power. It helps to free us from the mindset that anyone or anything else is responsible for our lot in life whether good or bad. It helps us to abandon the mindset of the "perpetual victim" and adopt the mindset of the "perpetual victor."

No matter what you may believe, know or are aware of – natural law – principle cannot fail and it cannot be avoided. It simply is.

"We are who we are and are where we are and are how we are because of the choices we've made."

Thinking otherwise makes no difference as you will continue to bear the consequences of your true thoughts and beliefs – good or bad. It is important to examine our thoughts and our words because we often do not realize how they impact our lives.

Whenever you're feeling stuck; whenever you're feeling down, just repeat and try to embody and believe the following affirmation.

Calling on the "I AM"

I am
I am in control of me
I am who I choose to be
I am where I choose to be
I am how I choose to be
I am the master of my fate
I am the designer of my destiny
I am the programmer of my life
I am all that I am because I choose
I am

From Dean's Library

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How to Develop Self Confidence

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This is a topic that has been talked about and written about extensively and yet, it is still one worthy of more examination. This is because if you do not Develop Self Confidence, you will be hard pressed to succeed in your endeavors.

A major reason, why many do not achieve the results they desire, is due to the lack of self confidence. As much that has been said and written about the subject, I feel compelled to visit it yet again by sharing my own insights and experiences.

The goal then of this article is to help you understand the true meaning of and how to develop self confidence through practical application.

Firstly, it is crucial to understand that self confidence comes from within. Yes, I am sure most of you have heard that before; however, let's break down the reason – though simple – it is vital to embody this in order to achieve effective results.

The mere use of the word "self" in front of confidence speaks volumes; Self implies that it comes from you – it's all about what you think. In other words, no matter what others think, say or do, you will not achieve true self confidence unless you truly believe in who you are.

I know – a bit elementary I suppose – but nonetheless important to point out in my book.

This leads me to the very crux of what it takes to develop true self confidence. The heart of this lies in a simple and universal principle called "SEE-FEEL-DO-GET."

Essentially, the principle says that the way we SEE things, affects how we FEEL which affects what we DO which determines the results that we ultimately GET.

It stands to reason then that the level of your self confidence depends entirely upon the way you SEE yourself which will affect how you FEEL about yourself, which will affect what you DO and determine the results you GET.

To develop self confidence then, it means that you need to change the way you SEE yourself, which will change the way you FEEL about yourself, which will change what you DO and change the results you ultimately GET.

Yes, it really is this simple – however, SIMPLE isn't always EASY.

Since we know that simple doesn't always mean easy, let's look at practical ways you can begin your journey to develop self confidence with the greatest degree of efficacy and success.

You need only do one thing in order to achieve the results you desire when it comes to your self confidence.

Change your perception of you

In order to improve your self confidence, you must change the way you see yourself. The way you feel about who you are is directly related to how you perceive YOU. In other words, when you look in the mirror, do you like what you see looking back?

More often than not you will find that you don't because if you did, chances are you wouldn't have a self confidence issue. It doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you – in fact, I am certain there isn't. It's more about how you see the person looking at you in the mirror.

If you don't like who you are then you must change who you are to someone you do like. Whatever it is you don't like about you – you have the personal power to change it.

Essentially, in order to change the way you feel about who you are, you must first come to terms and be honest about who you are. This means taking a hard look at you and then choosing to accept, appreciate and approve of who you are.

Furthermore, you must endeavor to change anything that you don't like about you; otherwise it will be difficult to change how you feel. Think of the person you would like to be and the characteristics he/she would possess. Do you embody any of these? Are you willing to do what it takes to develop the characteristics you do not embody but would like to?

These are simple questions that are just not always easy to answer because the truth can hurt sometimes; however, this is what you must do in order to truly develop self confidence at the highest level.

Once you are on the road to accepting, appreciating and approving of who you are, your self confidence will greatly improve. To continue your growth, you must then endeavor to know yourself better, give to yourself and love yourself. Remember that other people's opinion of you is none of your business. What matters is what you think of you. This is the pinnacle of self awareness.

If you can effectively change the way you see yourself, you will undoubtedly be able to change how you feel what you do and the results you ultimately get. In fact, as leaders, our main purpose is to help others see themselves they way they ought to be. It is not about control, it is about positive influence to help others find their voice in the midst of all other voices.

To the degree that we can help others find their own unique voice, their growth and success will mirror that degree.

There will always be those who say they can't do this for one reason or another and to those people I say, you are absolutely right. If you think you can't, then who am I to say otherwise?

The point is that anyone smart enough can choose to see himself/herself differently if he/she truly wants to develop self confidence and achieve better results.

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7 Keys to Improving Your Self Esteem

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So many individuals struggle with maintaining a healthy self image. Even worse, most are not even aware that they have a poor self image let alone understand what they need to do to make it better. Instead, they play the blame game where everyone and everything else is at fault except them. Know anyone like this?

Improving your self esteem then, is certainly a topic worthy of discussion and focused thought. So often I come across bright individuals who just can't seem to see the great potential in themselves as others do. Often times, they don't even believe it when I share this with them; most times it is taken as mere empty flattery just to make conversation.

The truth is that everyone has tremendous value within them; whether you are aware of it or not, we are all born with the capacity to create and distribute enormous value. The only sad thing is that most of the people on our planet will not even come close to scratching the surface of their greatness – at least not by the looks of things and certainly not in my lifetime.

Please don't take these forewords to be negative in anyway; they are simply my way of helping you become honestly and perhaps, even painfully, aware of where you are in the spectrum. This is because from my experience, it is extremely difficult to achieve any success in anything if you are not crystal clear on your starting point.

With that said, the goal of this article is to create a blueprint that can help you with improving your self esteem as well as maintaining a healthy self image.

The main reason that people have low self esteem to begin with is not because of what others say or do; it is first because of how they view themselves. In fact, if you are not aware of whom you truly are, at your core, you will be hard pressed to have and/or maintain a healthy self image.

Highly effective individuals understand that it is important to constantly pursue your own self awareness in order to stay in tuned with who you are. I have already written an in-depth article on the pinnacle of self awareness which is a great place to begin your journey of improving your self esteem.

Following are 7 keys to improving your self esteem. If you practice to live these 7 elements consistently, your self image will only get better and you will undoubtedly experience profound and positive changes in the results you achieve.

Key # 1: Aspiration

In order for you to begin to build a healthy self image, you must know what you want it to look like. Think of your best self and then project that into your life. This is your aspiration; your true desire of whom you want to be and become.

To do this, it is important that you accept, appreciate and approve of the person you are right now. Unless you do this it will be very difficult to move and grow beyond this point because you have not acknowledged where you truly are.

Even if you have to look to the exemplary individuals that have touched your life and emulate them in some way that speaks to your core, it is important to aspire to be and become your best self.

Key #2: Inspiration

With great aspiration of whom you want to be and become must come inspiration. Whenever you need a boost, seek out people and things that truly inspire you; that make you want more and better and new and good.

Inspiration enlivens the spirit and awakens the creative senses. It is the stimulator of growth and change; it sits at the forefront of greatness. When you are inspired, you feel on top of the world; as if you can do anything. The world becomes one of infinite possibilities and you feel as though you have a place to show your real stuff. (Maybe that's just me.)

The point is that improving your self esteem and maintaining a healthy self image requires that you are infused and refreshed frequently with the people and things that most inspire you to greater heights. These are the kinds of people and things that make you want to look deep within yourself and pull out your best stuff and nothing less.

As the great beauty company Redken 5^th Avenue puts it in one of their slogans – "Get Inspired. Be Part of it."

Key #3: Motivation

Where you have aspiration and inspiration, Motivation is sure to emerge. Both not only help you stay motivated but also constantly lead you to more things that keep you motivated. It is hard to see yourself in a positive light if there's no fire in your belly. If you do not have something that makes you get out of bed excited to be a part of every morning, your self esteem is guaranteed to suffer one way or another.

Motivation is crucial to building and maintaining a healthy self image which is why it is important to do what you truly love to do. Essentially, the surest way to stay motivated is to discover and pursue your true purpose. Staying highly motivated becomes a cinch when you absolutely love what you do and derive a great sense of fulfillment and worth from it.

In order to make sure you stay motivated, do what you love and be proactive about pursuing it daily – no excuses.

Key #4: Visualization

Just as it is important to be proactive, it's crucial to know exactly where you want to go. In this vein, you must begin with the end in mind – visualize where you want to be before to make the first move. All truly successful individuals create the blueprint first before they ever take the first step.

It doesn't matter how small the goal, it is vital to be crystal clear about the results you wish to achieve. People who know where they want to go have a reason to get up and do something every single day; they always have a mission. When you are motivated by true purpose and you are crystal clear about where you want to go, getting there simply becomes about walking down the path to your goal. It doesn't mean that it is easy to stay the course; however, the process is SIMPLE.

Key #5: Determination

Determined people make it – simple as that. Improving your self esteem requires that you stay determined about your dreams and goals no matter what others say or do or what circumstances come your way.

Your only objective is to remain driven and guided by your true purpose while doing the right things by others in getting there. Too often we veer off course because society doesn't approve or to appease our need to be liked by everyone. It may actually shock you to know that a great majority of people rob themselves and the world of their true greatness because of their overwhelming need to be liked. It's really a sad thing.

Determination, backed by a crystal clear goal and fueled by true purpose is more powerful than you can imagine. I know it may seem like I've gone somewhat off target here where self esteem is concerned; however, I assure you, all this is key to your success.

Ever notice that the more determined you are to stay negative, the universe brings more negativity into your life? And, ever notice the opposite? The more determined you are to stay positive the more the universe brings positivity into your life. This is no coincidence – this is the law of attraction in action.

Just try this simple exercise…

Make it a point tomorrow to simply smile at everyone you come across and see how many smiles you get back. It is an amazing feeling – I know – I've been there.

If you truly believe in whom you are and want to be; if you are truly motivated by true purpose – then stand your ground no matter what and never give up no matter what. Even though sometimes it will be hard, I guarantee that every time you choose to keep moving forward through all the struggles – your self esteem will improve. This is how winners keep winning… they take their licks and keep on ticking.

Key #6: Implementation

Once you've dreamed it and created the blueprint, it's time to take action. Nothing will come to fruition unless you begin to implement your dream. Of course, if you are practicing the first 5 elements, execution becomes so much easier. I know that they say knowing is half the battle; (At least GI Joe used to. ) I happen to believe that knowing is 90% of the battle. You see once you know where you want to go; you have only to walk through the steps.

The euphoria of self esteem cannot last unless you achieve results and if you are not acting on your dreams and goals you cannot do that. This is why it is important to set goals to help keep you focused and on target with the tasks involved in reaching your objective.

Just remember that nothing you want to happen will ever happen unless you make it happen. Even when you believe that your luck brought you your true desire, it can never be true unless you were involved in the making of it.

Key #7: Appreciation

When it's all said and done, it is crucial to always show gratitude for your blessings. When you win, it's important to celebrate; however, it is even more important to give thanks. Be grateful for what you have.

The fact is that the more you show appreciation, the more things you get to appreciate. This is the law of gratitude. Improving your self esteem and maintaining a healthy self image is not just about how you see and treat yourself; it's also about how you see and treat others.

When you can truly appreciate every blessing in your life, you see the world very differently. All things seem possible and the seemingly little pockets of light in your life quickly overwhelms any seemingly massive area of darkness. I know this might sound a bit deep; however, showing gratitude for what you receive is a sure way to improving your self esteem and maintaining a healthy self image.

Appreciation is what keeps the cycle of the other 6 elements going for an infinite and continuous circle of aspiration, inspiration and motivation. You then just have to visualize your goal, stay determined to finish and implement your blueprint by taking action; and whether you achieve your ultimate goal or you miss, remember to show gratitude for what you receive – whether it is a win or a lesson.

Appreciation keeps us grounded and reminds us that we didn't do it on our own.

The practice of these 7 elements will undoubtedly help you quickly and effectively in improving your self esteem.

Feel good about you and see you in the winner's circle.

 

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Goal Setting for Life

Goal oriented individuals in my experience seem to always accomplish more in less time than most. Truly successful individuals move with purpose like the marines who consistently claim that they get more done by 6am than most people do all day. I have to say that I've known a few marines and this claim holds a lot of water – they get it done.

I have already written extensively on goal setting; however, the portion on goal setting for life deserves an outtake of its own. Once you understand the effective way to set goals, setting them for life becomes a much more focused task that requires a bit more thought and thoroughness.

The objective of this article is to help raise your awareness to the factors you must consider when creating your life's blueprint. These elements will most certainly help you make better choices and take more purposeful actions to achieve the results you desire. Your success rate will most definitely explode once you begin applying these to your life.

Following are the 5 factors you must consider when you decide to write the program for your life.

1. What do you love?

The first thing that you must do is figure out what you love to do. When you do this, I suggest you be honest with yourself. Go for "pie in the sky" and dig deep; whatever it is you love to do – jot it down.

This should be the thing that you are most passionate about doing. The type of thing you would do for free if money were no object. Figure out what that is and make a note of it.

2. What is important to you?

This factor usually escapes most people; they don't even realize that they've never considered it until their relationships and endeavors begin to unravel. Truly thinking about what is most important to you will help you make better decisions about how you spend your time and energy.

This is vital to your success because as most have learned, some in harder ways than others, you simply can't do it all. You must prioritize and execute around those priorities.

As Stephen R. Covey puts it, "many spend all their time climbing to the top only to find that their ladder was leaning against the wrong wall." Don't let this be you. Figure out what is most important to you, prioritize these things in your life and execute around them.

3. How do you create value doing what you love?

Again, another factor that escapes 99% of us; most don't realize that doing what you love is meaningless unless it creates value for others. There's simply no point doing what you love if no one benefits from it.

In other words, not only does it go against natural laws because our abundance lies in the quality of our service to others; but also, if you are not creating value for others, no one will pay for it – neither in time nor money.

With that said, you must also figure out how you can do what you love in a way that creates and distributes value to others. It must be fulfilling because you make a difference; rather than just success in your own right, doing what you love should take you to significance because you positively impact the lives of others.

4. Develop a routine

Goal setting for life requires diligence; it demands that you are disciplined enough to follow through on the things you need to do. Sometimes the main difference between those who succeed and those who do not are habits. When you move in a scattered and unfocused manner, the results you achieve are just that. The exact opposite is true for those who move with clarity and focus; the results they achieve reflect that.

This means taking a long hard look at yourself and admitting to your shortcomings. Think about the things you are good at and continue to improve but also, look at the areas where you can really use improvement and take the steps to do so. The quicker you step up your game in the areas of weakness, the quicker you will see the results you desire.

5. Stick with it

The other 4 factors do not matter at all unless you see it through. Remember that failure is an event, never a person. This means that you are a winner no matter what; you only need study and learn from your failures. That's what mistakes are for – to teach you valuable lessons so that you can make adjustments. When you only focus on the negative in your failures, it leads to frustration and depression causing most to give up.

The truth is that we've all been there – that place within us where we just feel like giving up. That's OK – all I'm saying is don't let it defeat you. Keep going and no matter what happens don't quit doing what you love. The truth is that when you quit doing what you love, you not only rob yourself but also the world of your true greatness. This is a disservice to all – those you know and even those you don't. We cannot know fully the impact of the ripple effect of our choices but rest assured that they often impact others in ways that you may never know. This is why it is important to make conscientious choices.

So, stick with it – never give up and you'll see your dreams and goals come to fruition. Goal setting for life demands that you commit to see it through all the way and nothing less.

These 5 factors are the ones you must consider before you create your blueprint. Once you've read and understand these, it is time to ensure that you understand how to go about setting and achieving your goals.

 

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Personal Growth Quotes

The following is a list of some of my most popular posts ever to Facebook and Twitter. I have also used these quotes in my various articles on this website. These personal growth quotes are a collection of insights from my tremendous mentors, experiences and overall lessons in personal change that I have discovered.

The purpose of this article is to officially release use of these quotes to the public. This is not for self promotion but simply for the widest range of impact. As it states in my mission statement, I want to help as many people as possible realize their true gifts and talents so that they can achieve their dreams and goals. This is the sole purpose for this official release.

At times that I have used the quotes, I have always found them to be beneficial not only to me but also to others who have heard them. It is not because they are so fantastic that they immediately change lives – it is simply because these are authentic words that stem from real life. They resonate with others deeply because the examples in their lives come screaming to the surface when they hear or read these words.

Whether or not you choose to use these personal growth quotes is completely up to you; however, this ensures that you will have a mini-archive from which to pull.

I have only one request – if you do choose to use any of these quotes that you give the proper credit for the contribution. I ask that you always show my full name like this: Dean L. Forbes.

I have also specified where the quote comes directly from another source and I ask that you give credit to the proper sources in these instances.

You need not do anything else; no need to ask permission or anything else. This article is an official document granting permission to you to use these quotes in whatever forum you deem fit and/or necessary. I am confident that you won't misuse these words. There will be no backlash from me for any reason.

Just please be mindful that these words should not be taken lightly or used loosely – they are extremely powerful when embodied and understood fully. They can even be powerful daily mantras for life – just things that you repeat to yourself as a reminder.

Following are 22 powerful personal growth quotes that can impact your life and the lives of those you know and connect with.

1. Proactive people are not driven by what happens to them but by the things they make happen.


2. Proactive people always affect changes; reactive people are always affected by changes.


3. Managers do things right, leaders do the right things. - Author Unknown


4. To neither know who you are nor where you are going is to be like a frozen river on the hottest day of summer; to know who you are but not where you are going is to be like a still river with no ebb and flow, but; to know yourself and where you are going is to be like the universal river that brings all dreams to fruition.


5. To simply be the victor in 100 conflicts or negotiations is not the pinnacle of skill or the true essence of humanity; however, to persuade your opponent to sit on the same side as you, to nurture differences and transcend conflict - this is the pinnacle of skill and the true essence of humanity.


6. Confidence lies in your preparation; the possibility of success lies in your execution.


7. For you to achieve the success you desire, you must first visualize the finish line, believe that it is already yours and then proclaim it confidently.


8. Unsuccessful individuals go forth blindly and then seek to win while truly successful individuals win first and then go forth in victorious clarity.


9. In order to consistently achieve your goals, one method can be to adapt the mindset of doomed soldiers. "Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory." – Sun Tzu


10. If you plan, prepare and expect to win, look at every failure as an opportunity to increase your knowledge, choose change over stagnation, you will never know defeat.


11. To lack vision and take no action is the way you guarantee failure; to walk the path before you visualize the end is the way to guarantee turmoil; to visualize the end before you walk the path is the way to guarantee true success.


12. Although it might seem easier to tear others down rather than build them up, you must understand that you cannot successfully build up yourself unless you build others. Any power you perceive from tearing others down is an illusion created by the glass-made ground upon which you walk and it will inevitably shatter and cause disarray in your endeavors.


13. If you are not overwhelmed with degrees and accolades, it is not because you have an aversion for success; if you are not well endowed in your wallets and purses, it is not because you have distaste for riches; and if your life is not excessively long, it is not because you do not desire longevity.


14. To consistently complain about what your plights are and do nothing about them is to live like the sole of a shoe on the foot of a growing giant.


15. To consistently claim that you have no choice is in itself a choice to remain ignorant, thus you lack vision; to constantly complain about the drugs, sex and violence on your television while watching without fail is the pinnacle of hypocrisy; to tell others they can't because you believe that you can't is the most despicable of disservice, thus you lack hope; to claim benevolence while you do nothing to overcome malevolence is the summit of evil; to be without care for none of these is to usher in self-destruction.


16. To understand a man's station in life, you only need examine his choices.


17. Your name rings a lot more bells a lot louder when someone other than you sings your praises.


18. Those who live in fear sit on a bubble; those who face their fears stand on solid ground.


19. Those who've reached their full potential are consumed with ego; those who consistently pursue their full potential grow humble and wise.


20. Your success and true happiness is not measured by the deeds to your properties but by the properties of your deeds.


21. Those who ask questions are seekers of knowledge and agents of change; those who do not are enforcers of ignorance and agents of stagnation.


22. Those who hoard knowledge seek to control and spread tyranny; those who share knowledge seek to uplift and spread equality.

From time to time, I will continue to update you with more powerful insights and personal growth quotes so don't forget to stay in the loop by bookmarking this site and signing up for our Free Newsletter.

 

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31 Little Ways to Guarantee You Succeed In Everything You Do Tomorrow

Following are 31 little ways to guarantee your success in everything you do tomorrow right out of the gate. These are in no particular order; however, if you can make it a point to practice even 3 of these just for a day – you will certain see a huge difference in what you can achieve.

Some of the great benefits you will derive include but are not limited to the facts that, you will feel better, be happier, touch more people positively and you will make significant differences not only in your life and personal growth but also in others as well.

Here goes…

1. Get a good night's rest

There are not many things that beat a good night sleep. It can help in making you more relaxed, focused and accommodating. You may have noticed in your own life how much more open you are when you've had a good night sleep. You may have also noticed how closed you are when you haven't.

2. Dream big

A good night's sleep can help put you in a great space where you can truly slip into the meat of your dreams. The more restful you are, the clearer your dreams. Part of dreaming big is going to bed with the best of thoughts on your mind. Think about the things you truly love to do and the people you love. These will help you to really dream big – the sky is the limit, especially in your dreams.

3. Give thanks

As soon as your feet touch the ground in the morning and then again when they hit the bed at night, you should make it a point to give thanks for all your blessings. No matter how small or seemingly insignificant, show gratitude for what you have. The law of gratitude says that the more grateful you are for the things you have the more things you get to be grateful for. So give thanks and your day will be promisingly successful.

4. Smile

As my wife puts it S.M.I.L.E. stands for See More In Life Every day. A smile, in my experience, not only makes you feel better instantly but it is also contagious. Have you ever noticed that the more you smile the more others around you smile back? Additionally, people become a lot more open and agreeable when they are smiling. This is a fundamental tactic in sales; sales people are trained to smile big every chance they get. The reason is because it is a proven fact that you get a lot more done when people are having fun – so smile.

5. Know your mission

Never leave home without knowing what your goal is. It doesn't matter if you're only going to Target to pick up diapers and toilet paper; the more crystal clear you are on your mission, the more focused you'll be. The more focused you are the more likely it will be that you will achieve your goals. In order to succeed in everything you do tomorrow, it is imperative that you are clear on what your mission is.

6. Win first

Most people wake up every day looking for a win; truly successful individuals wake up winners! All this means is that before you begin any journey, you visualize yourself at the finish line. Imagine the prize, the accolades, and the reward – see yourself doing it all the way. This is what real winners do. Executing the mission is just going through the motions; however, they've already won in their minds. As my great friend and mentor Ann Mincey puts it, "You are a star right where you are." Nuff said.

7. Make a plan

All truly successful individuals plan. It doesn't have to be elaborate; however, for each day you exist on this plane, it is important to have at the very least an outline of what you expect to accomplish in your day. Even if your day is a day of dealing with whatever life throws your way, if your mindset is in that space and this is truly your plan, you will hold frustration and depression at bay. Truly successful individuals know that if you fail to plan, you've essentially planned to fail.

No house is built without first consulting the blueprint; before the first stake is plunged and the first nail driven, the foreman and his crew look to the blueprint for the next move. This is why you need to make a plan or risk having you deluxe master bathroom end up in the barn.

8. Prioritize your tasks

The power of priority is extremely underrated. In order to succeed in everything you do tomorrow, it is crucial that you make the effort to prioritize your day. Think about what is most important for you to accomplish and when the time comes, just do those things. No matter what is happening, make it a point to go in order or priority. Yes, it might feel a bit weird at first; however, I promise that it's for the best. In my experience, proper prioritization has never failed me.

9. Put first things first

This is harder than it sounds – well at least for me. I work on this one constantly because I often get confused about what things are first. I can tell you that from experience, when I do get this right – it is amazing how well the rest of my day flows. Something as simple as giving my 2 precious daughters 15 minutes of undivided and uninterrupted attention can mean 2 hours or work time uninterrupted. Wow!

It is vital to understand what is most important in your day and in your life in order to know what to put first. Understanding these things helps you know when to stop, take a breather and focus on the right things at the right time. When you prioritize, it becomes easier to see what things come first as far as where to spend your energy.

10. Act with purpose

When you act, do it with purpose. I am not saying you need to be a stiff shirt and that spontaneity has no place in your day. I am simply saying that whatever you plan to accomplish, make sure your actions are in line with that goal. When you make a move, make sure that there is a reason – be proactive about it and don't just react to the people and environment around you. In fact, that is exactly the point; stay your course unless changing it is the right thing to do in order to achieve the results you desire.

11. Help someone

It is extremely difficult to truly help yourself unless you help someone else. Most people don't even realize the profound truth and principle in this statement; however, I can assure you that it is true. It doesn't matter if you believe it or not or are aware of it or not – this is a universal principle.

Helping someone else is a sure way to get closer to your goals. Success in everything you do tomorrow is almost assured when you genuinely seek to create and distribute vale for someone else. Make a difference in someone else's life and watch your dreams come to fruition.

12. Teach someone

A sure way to increase your own knowledge is to teach someone else what you have learned. A sure way to change the world is to educate and uplift someone else with your wisdom and experience. Knowledge is useless if we hoard it; it can only reach its true potential when we willfully share it.

13. Learn from someone

Just as teaching others is important, it is equally if not more important to learn from others. Learning from others is how we get inspired, make better choices, make a difference and be of significant service. No one knows everything he/she needs to know no matter how long you've been alive. There is always more to learn and new growth to achieve. Truly successful individuals are humble enough to know that you are always in pursuit of your full potential but that you never actually reach it. This is because no matter how much you grow – you can always grow more.

14. Lower your expectations

Slow down – this doesn't mean to lower your self-expectations. It means that you should be ok with lowering your expectation of others without lowering your standards. What most of us do is impose our expectations upon others and then get disappointed when they don't live up to them. This is called judgment. The truth is that you can always change the way you relate to and interact with a person based on their level of commitment to your relationship.

In order to succeed in everything you do tomorrow, it is crucial that you are able to lower your expectation of others without lowering your standards. This will help you tremendously in making better choices about where you spend your energy. It will most certainly reduce frustration, anger, disappointment and you will undoubtedly be much less judgmental.

15. Maintain your standards

Just because you lower your expectations of others does not mean you have to lower your standards. Maintain your standards; do not allow anyone else's choices and attitude to make you regress in your own personal growth. Stand your ground; make powerful choices that keep you in situations where your standards are met. It doesn't mean that you are turning your nose up at anyone – it just means that there is a certain standard that you choose to live by. It might be a cliché BUT, it is so true – "to each his own."

16. Find the silver lining

This is very hard for most people to do. In fact, more often than not you find many more people willing to judge someone else who seems to always find the silver lining in every cloud. It seems easier to tear someone down; however, the repercussions to your personal growth can be disastrous.

There is always some good in every situation no matter how bleak it may seem; make the extra effort to consistently look for it. No matter how others might criticize you for your optimism – do it anyway. When you are able to see the glass consistently as half full, your attitude is always up which means your aptitude goes up and ultimately your altitude.

17. Laugh

Nuff said!

18. Check your ego

This is supremely important when it comes to succeeding. As one of my mentors puts it, ego stands for "edges greatness out." Truly successful individuals are always aware of their ego and how much damage it can do when you let it run wild. Practice humility in all situations; in ego, there is infinite ignorance – in humility there is infinite wisdom.

When you can check your ego at the door, many doors remain open to you that would otherwise be closed. I can speak from personal experience to say that nothing good comes from allowing your ego to govern your choices. It is not about you – it's about YOU!

19. Stow your pride

Ego and pride walk hand-in-hand. Pride has destroyed many a men and women in a myriad of ways. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments; however, when pride leads you to remain ignorant while pretending to be knowledgeable, no good comes of it.

Pride ushers in arrogance and sense of entitlement without work. If you haven't earned it by paying the price, you do not deserve it and the universe will quickly bring you back down to earth one way or another. Pride houses the danger of the false belief that you are more important than you actually are. People are always turned off by this and you will find it extremely difficult to achieve much success when your choices are riddled with pride.

20. Don't do you

Most of you have heard this before; some of you may have even said it. I know I have before. It goes "I'm going to just do me" or something to that effect. Many times you ask people how they are doing and their response is "I'm just doing me."

Let me implore you – don't do you! Do not fall for this negative mindset masquerading as a strong and progressive one. It isn't – nothing could be further from the truth. When you adopt the mindset of "doing me", it forces you to focus on yourself which leads to selfishness. You no longer make choices that are aligned with your core values and beliefs. Instead, they are directed by whether or not, your choices serve you – you become more and more self-serving. This is a slippery slope because no real success has ever come without helping others be successful.

21. Do something different

"Observe the masses and do the opposite." That's what my Dad always said. When you do things differently, it always seem to stick out. Now, I am not saying that you should do something differently just to be different. Make sure that whatever difference you are making – it is of value to others.

Just remember that innovation – creating something new and different is one of the 7 ways to add killer value to anything.

22. Do the right thing

"Managers do things right; leaders do the right things." Be a leader tomorrow in order to guarantee your success. No matter how hard it may seem, always do the right thing. I know that it is often not as black and white as we'd like it – believe me – I can tell you from experience that it is often hard.

The point is though that the more you can do the right thing by yourself and others, the more successful you will be in your endeavors. Doing the right thing always feels way better than not. So, as much as you can aim to do the right things like all effective and truly successful leaders.

23. Ask questions

If you are going to make a difference in people's lives, it is imperative that you ask a lot of questions. Through questions, you raise your awareness and knowledge. When you ask questions, you make others feel valuable – as if they matter. When you ask questions about others, they have a greater tendency to open up to you.

24. Listen actively

Just as it is important to ask questions, that can be an exercise in futility unless you genuinely listen. As one of my mentors puts it, "Listening is a gift, give it often." When you truly listen to others, the trust level goes up and they feel even more validated because they believe that you truly care about their plight.

By actively listening to others, you will not only learn a great deal more, you will also have better insights on how to create and deliver value to others. All truly successful individuals are master listeners.

25. Love yourself

This is easier said than done – I assure you. Loving yourself means that you must truly accept, appreciate and approve of the authentic you. It is vital that you raise your awareness about who you truly are so that you can make better choices to become who you truly want to be.

26. Love everyone

Once you have learned how to love yourself, it becomes easier to love others. When I say love everyone, I simply mean that your actions towards others must come from a place of love. If you find it difficult to act lovingly towards someone, then inaction may be the most loving thing you can do. When you truly seek to show love to everyone, it frees up your energy so that you can put it into more productive and significant endeavors.

Ever wonder what that heavy feeling is inside when certain people enter a room? Yes, you know what I am talking about. Let that go – you don't need to carry someone else's weakness around. It's not your burden to bear so drop it.

27. Pay it forward

Don't forget the good deeds that others so for you. The best way you can give back in the like is to do something for someone else. Pay it forward – this is how the ripple effect gets wider. When you pay it forward, you not only make differences in the lives of others but you also expand your circle of influence. The larger your circle of influence, the higher the probability you will succeed in your goals.

28. Focus on your needs

Most people mistakenly focus more on their wants which usually leads to dead end and repeated disappointments. Even if you get some of what you want using this mindset, it is almost always short-lived. The truth is that in order to get what you want; you have to focus on your needs. It is only when your needs are met that your wants come to fruition long term.

29. Face your fears

Achieving success in everything you do tomorrow will most certainly require that you face your fears. We all have fears; however, truly successful individuals face their fears; they accept them and forge ahead courageously in the pursuit of right action. The whole point of facing your fears is to ensure that they do not paralyze you and cause stagnation.

30. Give it all you've got

This one goes without saying; however, I am still going to say it. You cannot achieve your goals if you put in "half-assed" efforts. It just won't happen. The sad truth is that so many people consistently put in lack-luster performance and consistently expect gleaming results – I don't get it! Do not be this person – give it all you've got – your very best every time and then live with the results. I guarantee you that you will feel a whole lot better about yourself even when you fall short.

31. Don't give up

Just as you're giving it all you've got – make sure you don't give up! Malcolm Forbes said it best when asked the question, "How do you succeed?" His reply was "Never give up." You know when you put all of these insights together; they are actually meaningless unless you stay the course. If you give up, the rest doesn't matter – does it?

Stay in the game; be proactive and go forth courageously in pursuit of your dreams and goals.

Well, there you have it…

These are 31 little ways you can guarantee that you succeed in everything you do tomorrow. The best part is that you don't have to practice these all at once. Some of them you may already be doing. Just choose a few to begin with, be diligent and once you've mastered one area – move on to the next.

Here's to your success and good luck!

 

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The Whole Person Concept

Too often, we forget that a person is made up of more stuff that we show gratitude and appreciation for. I have never known the days when it was standard to look at each person as a Whole Person.

That might sound a bit odd – BUT – think about it a moment…

How do you view the people in your life? Can you honestly say you see them as a whole or do you just look at and relate to them in part?

The world's greatest resource is people and to view them any less than as a whole is truly a disservice to them and you. This article focuses on the "Whole Person Concept." Essentially, it means truly viewing each person to whom you are connected in completeness.

The more you can see, understand, appreciate and show gratitude for all that a person is, the better the results you will achieve in your personal growth. Furthermore, the more you truly see a person for all that they are, the greater value you are able to add to their lives. Basically, the Whole Person Concept is a sure way to fuel motivation, empowerment, hope and ultimately true success.

The Whole Person Concept says that a person is made up of 4 quadrants – body, mind, heart and spirit. Truly successful individuals understand the importance of growing positively in all these areas. None of these are neglected in the equation because the health of each determines how high you will climb. To the degree that you can nurture and develop the 4 quadrants of you and also in others, the results you and they achieve will mirror alike.

For instance, I could, and I have, ask 100 people in a room "How many believe that the individuals that work for your organization possess more talent, more creativity and more passion than your current job requires or even allows?" Almost 100% of the time more than 90% of the people in that room raise their hands.

Now I don't know about you but to me that is a crying shame – utterly despicable. Why would any company want to hire a half a person or only part of a person? It makes perfect sense why we continue to see declines in productivity and efficiency. No one is truly valued and therefore remain unmotivated and unfulfilled. This is a recipe for lackluster results to say the least.

The Whole Person Concept requires that you tap into all 4 parts of the human make-up; body, mind, heart and spirit.

The Body

The body represents health, goods and services – it is where we meet our physical needs. Taking care of the body is crucial to your personal growth and success simply because we live in a physical world. Without a healthy body, one becomes lethargic, lazy and unmotivated.

As it relates to body, it is also important to understand the underlying symbol such as goods and services. If your goods and services are below standard, have little value and meet the needs of no one – they are useless. In other words, taking care of the body does not just mean your physical body; but also that of your work as well as your goods and services. These are also elements of the body.

Companies that put in place a strategic focus on health, work-life balance and the importance of a healthier lifestyle continue to see increases year after year in productivity, efficiency and overall morale. No matter what else is going on in the economy, when the needs of the body are met, increases in almost every area is automatic.

This is the reason it is so important not only to nurture and develop the body in positive ways but also to help others do the same.

The Mind

So often we fail to treat people like people and instead treat them more like machines. This is a prevalent condition in the corporate world. In fact, I find it absolutely ludicrous that in this day and age, you still find machines on the asset side of the balance sheet while people remain on the liability side of the balance sheet.

The truth is that it is extremely imperative for growth that we focus on tapping into and building the minds of others. Too often, people's true gifts and talents are overlooked because someone is following what it meant to be a guide as if it's the end all be all of knowledge.

The Whole Person Concept demands that you seek to grow your mind and tap into the minds of others. Find out what other people are truly good at and then help them to cultivate that in an effort to create and distribute value to others in unique ways.

So many times when you hear people complain about work, you hear about what the company is doing wrong and how no one listens to them. This is the cry of more than 90% of all employees working everywhere. This to me is a travesty.

Instead of telling people how to do something, simply relay the results you are trying to achieve and then turn them loose to find the best ways to accomplish the task. Give them the mission, make sure that they buy in and then refrain from policing their methods in how they achieve the goal.

I guarantee that the more you can do this for yourself and others, the greater the results you will achieve. A major reason for this is that people will more quickly commit to and promote what they help to create.

Remember that in the mind lives your true gifts and talents and through the body you can bring these to life. Any limitations on this will limit your personal growth and the results you achieve.

The Heart

The heart is where your true passion lives; it is where your innermost desires are born. Countless people go about their lives every day wishing for the moment when they will get the opportunity to truly do what they are passionate about.

In my experience, it does you no good to wait around for the opportunity to come to you – go forth and create it. Too many times, companies and people forget to find out what really drives others. It is important to know what makes people get out of bed in the morning – what people would do whether they got paid or not.

Think about it…

If money were no object, what would you be doing with your time? Are you doing that right now?

I am almost certain that most people would have to answer No to the second question. The sad fact is that 99% of people do not spend the bulk of their time doing what they are truly passionate about – what they truly love to do. Companies focus even less on tapping into this part of a person. They seem to function on the premise that as long as their ends are achieved, all is good. All the while though, frustration, depression and ultimately turnover begins to plague that organization. Companies with smart leadership do the opposite and see tremendous success because of it.

Even when people stay on the job, it is often just because they need a paycheck – a portion of which they spend deriving their fulfillment off the job.

In order to bring out the true greatness in others, focus on helping them to realize and develop their true passion. Passionate people always deliver better results. When you feel passionate about what you are doing, motivation, hope and empowerment all become second nature. This is a recipe for greatness.

When you are able to match people's gifts and talents with what they are passionate about, the possibilities become limitless in the success you can achieve.

The Spirit

In order to make significant strides in your personal growth and help others to grow, it is vital that you nurture and grow the spirit. The spirit is where your conscience lives – this is your inner compass. Your core values and beliefs are formed here. This is the helm from which you direct the other 3 quadrants.

The spirit tells you whether or not what you are doing is right. It validates your choices; either they are aligned with your true beliefs or they are not. When we make choices that are directed by our spirit, the results we achieve will most certainly be greater by leaps and bounds.

Just to be clear, the spirit does not necessarily have anything to do with your religious beliefs. It is more about making choices that come from your inner blueprint – the mantra by which you live your life. The spirit is where you decipher whether or not through your passion, your true gifts and talents and your service – you are truly creating and distributing value to others. The spirit is at the nucleus of body, mind and heart. Working together, they are more powerful than most can imagine.

The Whole Person

You can never truly see a person unless you can appreciate and show gratitude for all 4 quadrants of that person. True greatness comes from building all 4 – making them strong. To achieve significant strides in your personal growth, it is imperative that you understand this concept and endeavor to develop each of the 4 quadrants in yourself. Once you begin to do that, helping others to achieve the same will become a habit.

Too often parts of us sit on the sidelines waiting for the coach to put us in the game. I say stop waiting – get off the sidelines and just get in the game. The only person stopping you is you.

 

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Faith Is Not Blind

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as "blind faith."

Let's let that sink in a bit… ok – ready?

Most, if not all, of us have heard this term at one point or another. It is most often used in religious settings when referring to the Almighty – the Supreme Being – the Creator. Essentially, the idea of blind faith is to believe in something that you are told exists, yet perhaps not totally aware of. Furthermore, when operating in blind faith, the goal is to believe without questioning why.

Of course, being conditioned not to ever question "why" is the surest way to spread the ravenous disease known as "Unconscious Incompetence."

Unconscious Incompetence is the base level of awareness that sadly plagues the vast majority of us in insurmountable ways. Basically, it means that not only aren't you aware of yourself or your surroundings, you are oblivious to any solutions to the disease with which you have been stricken.

I know… it doesn't sound pleasant – does it?

The good news is that there is a SIMPLE cure for this disease and it starts with understanding that there is no such thing as "blind faith."

In fact, the truth is that most people who talk of blind faith are in the business of controlling the minds of others through fear and wonder. Whether they are aware of it or not is the only portion up for question; however, this is essentially what they are attempting to do when they impose upon you the charge to be ok with remaining dumb, unseen and unheard.

I don't mean to sound harsh on the concept of blind faith; however, it is imperative that you understand where I am coming from in order to receive the greatest benefit from what I am about to say in the next paragraphs.

Real change demands questions

No real change or great benefit and impact ever came about without someone first asking questions. In fact, part of our unique purpose includes consistently seeking ways to be better and make others better through our actions. This requires that we question the status quo.

Those who ask questions are seekers of knowledge and agents of change; those who do not are enforcers of ignorance and agents of stagnation.

My dad use to always say, "Observe the masses and do the opposite." I didn't realize what he was trying to tell me then in my youth; however, I have come to understand and believe in this quote. The fact is that most real change occurs when the few question the many; when the minority stand against the majority; when right is overwhelmed by wrong.

One man standing on his core values and beliefs is far better than a thousand standing on someone else's.

This is why real change demands questions. In order for us to share with the world our best selves, we must know why we are doing what we are doing; why we think the way we think. This is the only way to know what is truly important to you and the person you want to be.

Ignorance is not bliss

Ignorance only feels good in the moment; however, when the consequences begin to take toll, ignorance becomes far more painful. For many, the price is often unbearable and even sadder, most often, people are not even aware of why this pain exists in their lives.

This is because ignorance is not bliss; it can be rather painful and also do almost irreparable damage. Being unaware of yourself and those around you not only robs you of your true nature but also robs the world of your unique greatness. It is in all of us; we are all meant to do great things – we each have a unique and powerful purpose. Sadly, most of us will never realize this potential and it is mostly caused by ignorance.

Choosing to remain unaware and live in ignorance is the same as making the choice to deny your true self and worse, the entire world of your true greatness. Think about this the next time you even have the faintest thought to believe or utter the words ignorance is bliss.

Principles determine consequence

While we determine our own fates through the choices that we make; principles determine all consequence we endure. Whether we are aware of it or not or believe it or not, principles govern the level of pain or pleasure that we feel.

Certainly, our choices govern the results we ultimately achieve BUT principles govern how we reap. Essentially, the principle of choice and results say we reap what we sow; what we put out comes back to us ten and even a thousand times over. Once you understand principles and the fact that they operate in our lives unyieldingly, unbiased and unwavering, you will truly understand why blind faith does not really exist.

Principles are like "true north"; no matter where you think north is, it won't change the true direction of north. It's not something that we can vote on or solicit opinions on; north is SIMPLY north.

When we make choices grounded in correct principle – abiding by natural law – the consequences we reap will most assuredly be good. Of course, the exact opposite is also true. When we make choices that are not grounded in correct principle – that do not abide by natural law – the consequences we reap will be ill.

The important thing to understand here is that it doesn't matter what we believe; principles exist and operate impartially in our lives every single day. These are universal laws that affect each and every one of us; they govern the consequences we endure which are based on the choices we make.

Faith is a principle

It is important to understand that faith is a principle. The principle of faith essentially says that belief and confidence in and your level of conviction about something are what fuel your actions in being devout.

Here's the thing though…

If what you have faith in is grounded in correct principle, then the consequences you reap through your devotion to it will most certainly be good. Of course, the exact opposite is also true. If you choose to have faith in something that is not grounded in correct principle, then the consequences you reap will most certainly be ill.

It doesn't matter whether or not you are aware of the nature of what you believe in – if you choose to remain ignorant – the consequences will still be determined by principles.

This means that it is imperative that you always understand why you are doing what you are doing. This does not mean that you necessarily have to see something with your own eyes to believe it exists; however, it does mean that you must understand why you believe it.

Asking what things mean is not only important but also crucial to understanding who you are.

As it is faith is most often used in religious settings and this is where it tends to be most powerful and intense. It stands to reason then that it is in this realm where it is even more important to make choices that are grounded in correct principle.

In other words, saying that you believe in God and then participating in ungodly deeds such as control, manipulation and limitation does not adhere to universal law. No one has a monopoly on the truth.

Once you understand that faith is a principle; then you can begin to understand that the term "blind faith" is simply another way of saying just believe without knowing why. This is a choice to live in ignorance – to remain stricken with the disease of Unconscious Incompetence.

You see, faith is not blind – just often misdirected. The consequences of those people and things that you have faith in will come to past and will be determined by principles. It matters not that you believe it or are aware of it. It's going to happen anyway so just accept it.

If you cannot accept this, the road ahead will be difficult for you.

Fear and wonder

If you truly think about it; anyone that asks you to simply have blind faith is operating on ego. What he/she is basically saying is that they know something you don't; I am the chosen authority and I choose not to share the information because you are not capable of making your own choices to govern your life.

This is just another way to control others through fear and wonder. As one of my colleagues put it – many people have a "F.O.M.O." which means fear of missing out. Often times when a person or group of people wants to control others, they use this tactic to draw them in and then conjure up horrible consequences for non-compliance.

Those who hoard knowledge seek to control and spread tyranny; those who share knowledge seek to uplift and spread equality.

I won't ask you to believe what I have written in this article blindly – I invite you to ask questions and find your own path.

 

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The Pinnacle of Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is probably one of the most critical elements of personal growth. How well you know yourself directly impacts the level at which you can improve yourself. If you do not know who you are, you will find it extremely difficult to achieve the results you desire.

Knowing who you are is extremely important in order for you make choices that truly move you closer to your ultimate goals. This means that you must be willing to take a hard and honest look at who you are so that you can make healthy choices to improve in your personal growth and become who you truly want to be.

The goal of this article is to help you understand what it means to achieve the pinnacle of self-awareness and the importance and striving to do so.

There are essentially 3 parts that make up the pinnacle of self-awareness. If you are able to practice and improve in these 3 areas, the choices you make and the results you achieve will help you achieve your goals much more efficiently and fruitfully.

1. Know Thyself

To achieve highly self-aware, it is important that you know who you truly are. This is not just about personality and superficial fluff – this is about knowing and understanding your character.

In this respect, it is crucially important that you are honest with yourself – even if it hurts. In fact, if you really want to know who you are and you want honest feedback, ask someone you trust and respect whom you know will tell you the painful truth.

Unless you become painfully aware of your shortcomings, it will be difficult for you to achieve long-term and significant success in your personal growth.

The pinnacle of self-awareness requires that you take a long hard look at yourself and then decide who you want to become. Without an honest assessment of who you are today, I assure you that it will prove an uphill battle to become who you truly want to be tomorrow.

To put it bluntly, if you are a thief and you know you're a thief – you have to be willing, courageous and honest in admitting to that. This is the only way to move forward and change that part of your character.

You see, the major mistake that many individuals make is that they do not look at their character when making these assessments; they only look at the more superficial elements usually driven by personality. Believe me there are plenty of comedic thieves out there that while making you keel over in belly-aching laughter could easily also be stealing your lunch.

The point here is that it is absolutely imperative that you are honest with you about who you are; the pinnacle of self-awareness demands it.

2. Love Thyself

The second part to the pinnacle of self-awareness is to love thyself. I know that it sounds like a pretty elementary concept; however, most fail to understand its true meaning and power.

Loving yourself requires that you truly accept, appreciate and approve of who you are. When you look in the mirror, you have to love what you see looking back at you.

Surely, this does not mean that if you are a thief – you should simply endeavor to go about loving the thief in you unless that's who you truly want to be. Of course, if this is the case – be prepared to reap all the consequences.

However, the goal is to love not only the person you see but also the person whom you are striving to become. You see, in order to begin your journey to become the new you, first you have to know the current you and love the current you. This way you can make much healthier choices in how to proceed.

The point is that while you may not be able to love the character of the current you, you can certainly love the part of your character that wants to become a better you in the first place. This is why it is important to accept, appreciate and approve of you. When you can do this genuinely, you will immediately find that it becomes a lot easier to make choices that truly impact your life significantly.

Don't be afraid to love yourself no matter what you honest self-assessment might uncover about you. The truth is that pursuing the pinnacle of self-awareness requires that you not only know who you are truly but also that you love who you are. And, if you are seeking to be better than you are today, it's definitely worth loving that character of personal growth and change within you.

Furthermore, when you truly love yourself, it teaches you how to love others. This is the true lesson behind the saying "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Experiencing the good feelings when you treat yourself the way you truly love to be treated helps you to express and give back to others in ways that allow them to experience the same. This is incredible not only for you but also for those you connect with.

The pinnacle of self-awareness requires that you truly love yourself and only do to and for you the things that make you truly feel loved.

3. Give Thyself

The third part to the pinnacle of self-awareness is to give thyself. Giving to you simply means that you seek to give completely only that which is healthy to your body, mind, heart and spirit.

OK, a little deep… let me explain.

You see, individuals who are highly self-aware give each of the 4 quadrants of themselves all the things they need to grow in a healthy way. In fact, as it relates you improving your personal growth, feeding the body, mind, heart and spirit with the proper food is a major component of cultivating wisdom.

In a nutshell it is important that you do to the 4 quadrants of you only things that help each grow positively. What this means is that you feed them nothing that has an adverse effect on their performance.

Certainly, no one is perfect – we all do things to ourselves that affect us in negative ways. My point here is to simply demonstrate that the more things you can do to uplift and positively grow the body, mind, heart and spirit – the easier it will be to achieve your goals.

Furthermore, as in loving yourself, the more you understand your needs and what to give yourself, the more you will be able to understand the needs of others and be able to give to them in ways that significantly impact their lives.

For a more in-depth view of how you can feed your body, mind, heart and spirit with the right foods, please read How to Develop and Cultivate Wisdom.

Practicing these 3 elements will undoubtedly make you more keenly self-aware than you have ever been. To achieve the pinnacle of self-awareness, it is important that you are in tune with all 3 of these.

The more highly self-aware you are, the greater the successes you achieve in your personal growth, development and in your dreams and goals. This is because the better you understand who you truly are, the more focused and powerful the choices you make.

So remember, know thyself, love thyself and give thyself.

 

 

 

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