Powerful Principles of Personal Growth

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

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Transparently Speaking

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This will probably read more like a rant than an article and I'm ok with that. From time to time I do find it necessary to cleanse by venting. Simply spilling my guts upon you though does not suffice; I must believe that there is some value for you in what I am saying.

Transparently speaking was inspired by my many experiences with different people and the way so many people view the world. This is not to say I have any monopoly on the truth whatsoever – no one does. The fact is though that too many of us keep trying to defy principles in a futile attempt to create dominion over people and things all in the name of the illusion of control.

Seriously – the way the world is shaping up – more of us have to step up to the plate and start creating and delivering some value to it. The time for half measures and talk are over and if you are not part of the solution, you are definitely a part of the problem. As the great author and speaker Stephen R. Covey puts it "the moment you believe the problem is out there; that is the very problem."

I mean c'mon…

There are still too many of us that blame everyone and everything else for our poor station in life. I don't know if the vast majority will ever get past this blockage and see the truth (Doubtful ); but it stands to reason we see so much depression and low self worth among people.

Who am I to judge?

Well, first off I am not judging anyone. Quite frankly we are all flawed and also responsible for each other. It is our responsibility to do our best to help others to do their best. This means that simply saying "I'm not perfect" is no longer good enough. We are all perfect in that we have the ability to pursue who we are truly meant to be and saying "I'm not perfect" is just an excuse to justify our constant failures. No one wins at everything; however true winners never give up because they've failed. Instead, they learn from their mistakes and try again.

Why do we fall? So that we can get up again of course… it might sound trite to you; however, it's still true.

One thing that I'd like to make you painfully aware of in this rant is that no one owes you anything. The world at large owes you nothing! You however (We), do owe the world everything. We all came from the world, regardless of by what process you believe, which means that we should all give back to it.

Expectation is the mother of all disappointments. Stop expecting people to do for you and give to you and start giving to others. Don't be a buffoon about this. Just because you lower your expectation of others doesn't mean you have to lower your standards. In other words, seek out others who have the same or greater standards than you and work with them – follow them. There is no rule that says you have to maintain a relationship with anyone who does not live up to your standards.

In fact, you should empower others to raise their expectations of themselves in a true effort to improve their self standards. You should govern your relationships from within. Once you choose how to spend your energy – live with the consequences of your choice.

Another thing is we all need to give for the sole purpose of giving rather than giving just to receive. The principle already exists that says the more you give, the more you will have. You don't need to think of it before you give because the truth of the principle has no conditions. Giving just to receive goes right back to creating expectations of others to which they don't always live up to which creates disappointment.

By the way, you are the maker of your own fate. Whatever your beliefs might be – this is the principle and it cannot be refuted. You can only break yourself against it but it will remain constant. We all have what we have and are where we are because of the choices we've made.

This isn't a question or a matter of opinion; so do not read it as such. This is the truth whether you are aware of it or not or believe it or not. All things are precipitated by choice. Yes, let's cover the choices of others right now because I know that's where most people go right after I say this. Of course you don't have control over the choices others make; however, you do have control over how you deal with those choices.

Again, stop looking for excuses and loopholes to absolve you for being less than your best. This world requires your best and that's what you owe it. If not your best, then why are you here? If you are not going to make a difference in the lives of others, what purpose do you serve except to serve as the example of what and who not to be? I suppose in that vein, we need you too.

Oh yes, let me not forget the cynics and complainers among us who do nothing but bring us down. Hey look, we have all had bad days – some much worse than others – but what gives you the right to spread your negativity everywhere you go? This has to stop!

Cynics and complainers are usually the same people who live in negativity while doing nothing to change themselves or their circumstance. What's worse is that they often try to convince as many as they can that this is the way the world truly is. The fallacy of it all is that the world isn't simply a physical thing – it is the people first. We make up the world and since we have the power to change ourselves, it could never be that the world simply is the way it is – it is the way we make it. Any other notion is simply foolishness thought of by a moron and spoken on the air of the devil's breath. (If I believed in the devil that is.)

Along with the complainers come the whiners; these are the individuals who constantly say that they can't and then have the audacity to question the poor results they achieve. Give us a break! If you constantly believe that you can't then you won't. It doesn't get much simpler than that.

So many people hate clichés when truthfully they should cling to most such as "what you believe you can achieve." You see a lot of clichés are grounded in true principle – natural law. This is why they always hold true. If you aren't going to do anything about your situation, please do not bombard us with your insistent whining – we don't want to hear it.

In 3 words – SHUT UP ALREADY!

I am also extremely tired of people who say "you need to learn to separate your professional from your personal life." Why put this burden on yourself and others? The vast majority of us spend somewhere in the neighborhood of 70%-80% of our waking hours with our professional colleagues/friends. Why then would you expect or even want people's personal life to be left outside this environment.

If you have a job, then you should know by now that this is a ludicrous proposition. As a matter of fact it is counterproductive. To think that we have to spend so much time disguising who we truly are from the people we work most closely with. And furthermore, to have no personal interest in those you work with only serves to diminish the team – not empower it.

Just to be clear, you are only one person, not two. While there is a time and place for everything, you can still only be one person. This means that you bring your personal life to work, we all do; however, you don't have to bring your baggage. In fact, when people feel the pressure to completely denounce their personal life at work, it creates even more baggage which manifests in the workplace making it harder to function.

No, you shouldn't come to work and air all your dirty laundry – we don't need all that information; however, there is nothing wrong with talking through personal issues with those you work with and trust. The point is that you have the choice. And any entity that tells you otherwise – you should quit immediately (or at least after you find another job.)

On the flip side of this of course are the people you trust at work with your information. For one thing, be smart about it and for the second thing, don't be an ass with people's information. Respect the confidences you are trusted with and treat it the way you would treat your own.

This leads to another thing I want to include in this rant…

Stop gossiping about everyone with everyone. You are a menace and create nothing but unnecessary drama for all involved. I'm not excluded from this pack either because I've done it and it isn't cool – not by a long shot. You should be able to have meaningful dialogue about others and circumstances; however, you shouldn't say anything about anyone to anyone else that you wouldn't say to their faces.

And don't be so damned naïve about your own status. The way people talk about one person is the same way they talk about all others. Someone once asked me "Dean, what do you think people say about you when you leave the room." And I simply answered, the same thing they say about anybody else when they leave the room. The point is that if a person is usually saying positive things about people, chances are they will say positive things about you. If a person is into gossip, you are not immune from the gossip machine so just get over yourself.

Ever heard the term "you are judged by the company you keep?" Ok, so no one has the right to judge anyone else but let's be serious. Where is your value system if all your friends consist of shady characters? No one can tell you whom you should hang with; however, you have to be willing to live with the consequences of your choices. Don't worry about what others think or say when it comes to your circle of friends – they are yours to choose and refuse. Wondering why people see you a certain way because of the company you keep is just a plain waste of time because as long as you hang out with certain people there will be those who view you in the same light they view your friends – good or bad so just deal with it.

On the other hand, when you choose to call someone a friend – just remember that your friendship will never mean as much as when you have to defend your friend in his/her absence. It's sickening to watch the way people allow and even engage in conversations and activities that tear down those they call friends. If you are doing this you are not a friend and your friend would be so much better off without you. This kind of thing happens way too often and it's time to stop it.

Transparently speaking, I have probably left the point of this rant way behind; however; I truly hope that you derive some value from it. As far as I'm concerned, if you're laughing, crying or thinking deeply after you've read this, it's enough – I'm good.

 

Thanks,

Dean.

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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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Freedom from Fear

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Let me begin this article by making one thing perfectly clear; Freedom from Fear is an illusion. While we don't fear all things, every person on this planet does fear some things. We have fears we are currently aware of and fears yet still to emerge – there is absolutely no question about it.

The good news is that what does exist is FREEDOM; so while we may never be free from having fear we are certainly free to choose how we deal with these fears. Most often in my experience I find that too many choose inaction because of fear rather than action in spite of it. In fact, many rob themselves and the world of their true greatness because of fear.

Fear is in fact a disease of the mind that causes a great deal of stagnation in many individuals. It promotes the status quo and reinforces conformity rather than leadership.

The goal of this article is to help you understand how to consistently achieve the results you desire despite any fears that you may have. Essentially, it is crucial to understand that Freedom from Fear simply means that you have the freedom to choose how you respond to your fears.

There are 5 essential questions that you need to ask yourself when facing a fear in order to make the most effective choice. Answering these questions honestly and then choosing to act on them accordingly will undoubtedly and significantly improve the results you achieve.

1. What do I fear?

First and foremost you must understand exactly what it is that you fear. If you neither know nor understand what you fear, you cannot effectively deal with it. This is why it is very important to examine your behavior and disposition in an objective and honest manner so that you can accurately assess where you stand. Once you truly understand the nature and/or cause of your fear then you can take the necessary steps to address it.

2. Why do I fear it?

Next, it is equally vital to decipher why you fear what you fear. Knowing why sheds light on the root cause of the issue thereby providing the answer to the very question. Knowing why immediately tells you from what angle to address the issue. In other words, you may simply need to talk through your fear whereas in another case you may need to experience your fear in order to overcome it. Simply put, knowing why fuels the resolution at the optimum level.

3. Is it more beneficial to surrender or conquer?

Not that I can ever think of any reason not to conquer any fear; however, this is still a crucial question to ask. It is important if for no other reason but to truly embody the value of overcoming your fear. You see, while I can see no good reason to surrender to any fear, it is extremely important to be painfully aware of the significant gap between what happens when you choose to surrender versus when you choose to conquer. There can be no comparison in the way you feel or the results you achieve. To conquer your fear is to acknowledge it and choose to act anyway in the pursuit of right and fulfilling action.

4. Does my choice create and deliver value to others?

Freedom from Fear requires that you understand the value that is created and delivered to others when you choose to conquer your fears. As I truly believe that each of us has an overall purpose on this planet to use our unique gifts and talents in ways that serve others. With that said, it is important to ask yourself whether or not your actions despite your fear serve others; if they create and deliver value to others.

Since fear serves no purpose but to hold you back from your true greatness, it is vital to understand how your choice to conquer your fears impacts others. When you can honestly say that choosing to act regardless of any fear you may have truly creates and delivers value to others, your personal power to choose FREEDOM will significantly improve.

5. What is the right thing to do?

This question is on the list for one major reason; if all else fails with the above all you have to do is figure out what the right thing is and then do it. Essentially, if succumbing to fear robs you and the world of your true greatness, then it is not the right thing to do. Yes, I realize that in some cases this is easier said than done; however, it doesn't change the fact that when fear is at the helm, greatness cannot emerge.

While there is always room for fear, there is no room for fear in the cockpit. The bottom line is that at the end of the day, just do the right thing and almost everything else will fall into place. Do what you truly believe is right and then live with the consequences of your choice. More often than not you will find that you've made the best decision.

When you can answer the above 5 questions honestly, you will be much more equipped to make effective choices to conquer your fears. Once you understand that Freedom from Fear is an illusion and that the only true freedom comes from choosing how you respond to your fears, you will begin to see immediate and positive effects in the results you achieve.

In conclusion, it is important to note that not all fears are created equal so it goes without saying that conquering some fears will be harder than others. Additionally, depending on the depth and breadth of your fear, some will take longer than others. The objective of this article is to provide you with a starting point and a practical approach to begin the process of overcoming your fears.

Now get conquering!  

 

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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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Fear of Rejection

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"No" is a reflection of the speaker's perception; feeling rejected is a reflection of the receiver's perception.

Many people have a very healthy fear of rejection. In fact, in a majority of cases, it causes afflictions of analysis paralysis that border on incurable. This fear fuels the number one fear of them all which is public humiliation. No one wants to feel rejected and certainly not in public – this is a major issue.

The good news is that analysis paralysis is always curable and your fears can all be dealt with effectively as long as you have the right information, tools and resources.

The goal of this article is to help you understand the fear of rejection and provide you some practical tips to help you deal with it.

First of all your fear is understandable; it is human to avoid rejection at all cost. The main issue with this challenge is that most people do not understand it. It is one of those things that aren't too often explained to your satisfaction. My hope is that through this breakdown, you will have a better understanding of this fear thereby giving you more confidence with which to manage it and ultimately remove it.

The quote above presents a nice summation for understanding this fear. You see when someone tells you "no" or refuses your "offering and/or advances", his/her answer and position have nothing to do with you. No matter what you believe, the fact is that people don't refuse to do things based on others; it is based on something within them.

Certainly, some of his/her consideration rests with you; however, it's not so much about who you are but whom they perceive you to be. It is important to understand, that playing integral roles in a person's responses are conditioning, experience and belief – all of these create his/her perception.

This means that when the answer is no, they aren't rejecting you but rather something within them that is derived from their conditioning, their experiences, their beliefs; their perception.

This is how you should view the person responding in the negative; not having anything to do with you but everything to do with them.

As one of my mentors puts it, "people's opinion of me is none of my business." This is because the only opinion of you that really matters in the long run is the one you have of yourself. If you wish others to see you in a certain way, you must first endeavor to see yourself in that way. Then and only then will you achieve your desire.

Now, once you've understood and accepted it – it will be much easier to understand your feelings as they pertain to rejection. Your fear of rejection then is a direct result of how you perceive yourself. It doesn't matter that you associate this fear with what you believe others might think of you – the fact is that it's all stems from the way you feel about YOU!

What this means is that when someone responds to you in the negative, feeling rejected is a result of your perception of yourself. It is based on your conditioning, your experiences, your beliefs; your perception.

The goal then is to work at truly accepting, appreciating and approving of the authentic you. When you do things; make offerings and/or advances based on your true purpose and what you believe in your core is right, you will be less likely to feel rejected by anyone's negative response. You will be able to simply surmise that your offering is not for this person, be truly thankful for the opportunity to share and graciously move on to someone else whom might need what you have.

To cure your fear of rejection then, you only need be at peace with who you are. It is only when we are not that we feel rejected. Remember that there are different areas of our lives where we experience different levels of confidence; therefore, the level of your fear will differ depending on where you are with your confidence as it relates to the particular area in question at any given time. (Phew – hope that made sense)

The only way to remove your fear of rejection is to remove your rejection of yourself. To do this you only need do 3 things:

1. Accept the authentic you – truly being ok with the person you are while knowing that you always have room to improve.

2. Appreciate your true gifts and talents – know that you are unique and that you have value to add to the world and the people in it. Your offering is different than everyone else's; however, it is still valuable and there are those who need it and only you can provide it.

3. Approve of the person you see in the mirror – no matter what, you have to approve of yourself. If you don't like the person looking back at you in the mirror then take the necessary steps to change you. You will always be able to approve of you once you recognize that you are the master of your fate and that you can be anything and anyone you wish to be.

I have already written extensively on the 3 As so it is a good place to start when you're ready to tackle, manage and ultimately overcome your fear of rejection.

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Failure by Design

Just as truly successful individuals do not believe in succeeding by accident, cynical individuals and fear mongers believe that success or failure depends the luck of the draw and origin. These individuals choose not to set goals and they only make plans to take no action; they always plan for the worst and hope for average. Instead of growing by design, cynics and fear mongers fail by design.

The goal of this article is to help raise your awareness to the fact that failure, just like growth, is also achieved by design. The point is to help you realize that doing nothing, planning nothing and hoping for nothing is the same as choosing failure. In effect, you design your fate through the choices you make even when the choice is inaction.

My hope is that this article helps you to take an honest look at yourself and then make the necessary changes if you exhibit any of these attributes. At the very least, the goal is to help you avoid these pitfalls that plague so many.

Failure by Design is exactly the opposite of growth by design; it means that you are reactive in the choices you make; that you do not take full responsibility for your own personal growth and the success you achieve. It says that you do not believe that you are indeed the programmer of your program. Your choices are based on shallow reactions to others and your environment instead of on your core values.

Following are 3 elements that plague the cynics and fear mongers among us; these are conditions, attitudes and beliefs you want to avoid lest you become one of those individuals who chronically fails by design.

Have to over Choice

Cynics and fear mongers do most of the things they do because they feel they have to and not because they choose to. They are unaware that all actions are precipitated by choice. They certainly do not believe that choice is the ultimate power; in fact, they believe the opposite – that formal authority is superior to moral authority. Furthermore, they believe that the cards you are dealt are the cards you must play; you cannot change your hand.

In this mindset, these individuals consistently succumb to the whims of society and peer pressures. They continuously look to the outside world for approval and thus never achieve the results they truly desire.

For those who believe in the "have to over choice", they believe that their destiny has already been written. This is exactly the opposite of the belief of truly successful individuals.

Victim over Victor

This is a common mindset among cynics and fear mongers; they are constantly playing victims. In fact, this can afflict individuals so deeply that they may even go into depression without the attention of those who would sympathize with their self victimization.

My wife puts it this way…

"Victims will always ask why me while victors will always ask why not."

For these self-proclaimed victims, every failure is compiled for their "I told you so" file. They log each one as if this is what they truly are – failures. They do not understand that failure is an event, never a person.

Victims always take the easiest way out; they blame others and situations for their lot in life. In doing this of course, they victimize themselves just a little bit more perpetuation their false convictions that it is what it is instead of what they make it. They do not realize that believing that the problem is out there is the very problem.

Instead of working on fixing self, victims truly believe that it is always others who need fixing in order for things to fall into place. Ever notice that there are no presents at a pity party and a lot of confetti at a winner's party?

Victims are masters at failure by design so don't be a victim.

Status Quo over Change

Cynics and fear mongers are change killers; they fight to keep the status quo due to fear of change. These are the secret agents of procrastination and stagnation.

More than 90% of their time is spent maintaining the status quo as opposed to seeking out, creating and embracing positive and progressive change. They do not understand that only through change can you grow; what's worse, they do not realize that change is a constant and that growth is inevitable whether it is for the better or worse. Choosing to uphold the status quo does not stop change; however, it does cause stagnation in your personal growth and success.

Cynics and fear mongers, because they are reactive, only move when told. They wait for things to happen rather than making things happen. They move with the masses no matter what values they uphold; they are only interested in assimilation rather than creation. They lack vision and imagination and believe that open-minded individuals are deluded and foolish to believe that they can change anything. They relegate themselves to mindless sheep being led to slaughter and believe that great things are done by great men and women whom do not exist in their ranks.

This element is a major difference between managers and leaders. Cynics and fear mongers can never achieve any level higher than a manager because all they do is chop their way through the bushes trying desperately to clear a path while leaders climb to the tallest tree top overlooking the jungle to see if there is a better way.

As one quote puts it…

"Mangers do things right; leaders do the right things."

Cynics and fear mongers are followers and not leaders. In fact, they do not want to lead because they do not want the responsibility. They do however like to ridicule and heckle leaders because their power comes from the misery and failure of others; or so they foolishly believe. If only they would realize that they are the ones who are deluded and foolish.

The bottom line is in the same way you grow by design; you also achieve failure by design. Whether you choose to act or not does not negate the fact that you've made a choice and you will have to live with the consequences. There's just no way around it.

 

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The Power of Purpose

Discovering your true purpose is an essential factor in the success of your personal growth. Sadly, too many of us will never fulfill our true calling which is a shame since the world would be robbed of great deeds because of this. This I truly believe to be so.

Perhaps though, it is because not enough of us understand the power of purpose. Experience has taught me that individuals who do understand its great power more often than not do great deeds.

The goal of this article is to help raise your awareness; to help you understand the powerful significance of your reason for being. There is not one living thing on this planet or anywhere for that matter that does not have a unique reason for existing. We each have our own uniqueness to offer the world; we have but to tap into it and discover how best to share it.

Understanding purpose

A purpose-driven life is one of focus, leadership and enlightenment. When you discover your true purpose, all your choices become much more clear and you move with reason rather than with randomness. You experience less chaos and confusion in your relationships and projects and you move continuously while others seem to stand still.

Purpose fuels motivation and leads to hope and inspiration because of your determination to fulfill your calling. Others benefit from your choices and you are happy because you feel fulfilled by the value that your work – your purpose has provided for others.

Purpose is not to be taken lightly; it is what you have been called to this plane to fulfill. There is unlimited power in this truth. Even when you do not fully understand your impact, still it is there when you are living out your true purpose. When you throw a rock into the stream and watch the ripples go out until they disappear from sight, it doesn't mean that the ripples cease. It simply means that you cannot know the full depth, breadth or magnitude of the ripple effect of your choices. This is the principle reason why it is so important to discover and pursue your true purpose in life.

Imagine a world…

In order to understand the power of purpose, I suggest that you first imagine an ideal world where every person existing in it pursued his/her true purpose. Imagine each individual committing to seek out his/her reason for being and then making choices to pursue it fully.

I don't know about you but this is a world in which I want to live.

Don't get me wrong – good and bad exist within all of us and quite frankly, there are lessons that this world needs to learn through having to suffer the bad deeds as well. With that said, wouldn't it be incredible if everyone passionately pursued his/her true purpose in life?

The greatness in such an era is unimaginable – it stretches the mind of most beyond the scope of its limiting beliefs. Still, a world where we all pursued our true reason for being is a world where all people strived to create and distribute value to others. In this world, each person would be happily seeking ways in which they could be of service to their fellow man.

This is the true power of purpose.

Your reason for being

True happiness lies in purpose – your reason for being. Have you ever wondered why so many people are still so unhappy even when they seem to have it all? You know – deep down – that there must be something missing. Sure, it is easier to judge such persons for being bratty and ungrateful; however, more often than not – there is something deeper going on inside them.

This is not to say that all unhappy people lack purpose; however, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who is pursuing his/her true purpose who is also unhappy. Even if there are elements of that person's life that he/she does not like – purpose empowers you to change it for the better.

In my experience, your reason for being is your salvation – it is the cradle you should seek when all else seems to fail. When you have found your unique way in which you will serve the world, little else can ever make you unhappy ever again. Furthermore, you will achieve far more greatness and significance when you are operating on your unique frequency.

I would go as far as to say that if you can imagine a world where everyone pursued his/her true purpose, you would have a world where the 80/20 rule gets turned upside down. Rest assured that in a wonderful world such as this, common conditions of societal breakdown and destruction would occur far less frequently; particularly the following 6 states would reverse in many cases.

1. Wealth without Work
2. Pleasure without Conscience
3. Knowledge without Character
4. Commerce without Morality
5. Science without Humanity, and
6. Worship without Sacrifice

I've written a full blown article on these societal breakdowns which you can read here.

These are the types of conditions and societal erosion upon which the power of purpose would have the most significant and profoundly positive impact.

This is why I urge you not to take it lightly; understand that you do the world an atrocious disservice when you choose not to seek out your reason for being, pursue it fervently and fulfill it.

 

 

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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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Killer Series: 7 Steps to Killer Networking Skills

Networking has long been one of the most important things you can do to increase your visibility and influence. Individuals who have developed strong networks tend to almost always get ahead faster and more efficiently than those who do not.

Sure, it takes more than a strong network to achieve at high levels; however, a strong network provides a lot more opportunities for you to make your mark. In fact, while book-smarts can often be very important in your success – it is much more difficult to hit your goals without a strong network. On the other hand, if you have a strong network – you can succeed at the highest levels even without book-smarts. That, I guess, makes Killer Networking more like street-smarts.

In my experience, having a strong network has proven to be one of the most crucial elements in my successes. In fact, I give great credit to where I am now to the incredible network that I have been able to develop and continue to cultivate. A very significant part of my pursuit of personal growth and excellence includes killer networking. Developing this skill, I believe, is absolutely necessary for you to achieve at the highest levels.

Following are the 7 steps to killer networking skills that once mastered will undoubtedly help you improve in your personal growth and rapidly move the needle closer to your goals.

1. Be proactive

The first rule of thumb in networking is that you have to do something; nothing happens unless you make it happen. Sitting around and hoping that you get the opportunity to meet the right people at the right time is a fool's folly.

In fact, the very core of networking is that you are constantly in the mode of connecting with others. If you are not moving towards others, you're not truly seeking to expand your circle.

To be proactive as a skilled networker means that you understand that you are 100% responsible for taking the steps necessary to make meaningful connections. Individuals with highly developed skills in this art are always seeking to collaborate with others who are going somewhere – adding value – doing things that make a difference.

So in a nutshell – get off your ass-ets and do something. 

2. Study the landscape

While you are being proactive, it is crucially important to know with whom you are dealing. Whenever you seek to network with others, it is important that you understand who they are and what they are about. Simply stepping into the arena and not know your audience almost always proves to be an amateur's move.

Studying the landscape will ensure that you know just what makes the people you seek to connect with tick. At the very least, you should understand their interests and know their accomplishments. Also, it is a very good idea to look for commonalities either in personality or experiences. The bottom line is it can only help you if you can decipher different ways you can actually connect with others in a meaningful way.

When I say study the landscape – I don't mean for manipulative purposes. What I mean is that once you know your audience, you can find truly authentic and more impactful ways of making a connection.

Killer networkers are avid researchers; they are constantly looking for common ground on which to play with others. The fact is that they understand that the more relative and level you can make the playing field, the greater your chances of hitting a home run in the networking arena.

So, do your homework before you dive into the pond to play with the big fishes.

3. Act with purpose

When it comes to networking, Killer Networkers only move with a mission. They know precisely these 4 things:

1. What they are going to do
2. Why they are going to do it
3. How they are going to do it
4. When they are going to do it

There are no accidents in the purpose-driven life of killer networkers. Acting with purpose means that unless you have a plan for the connection you seek to make – you don't move on it.

Certainly, there are times when things will happen spontaneously; however, these moments are the exception and not the rule. At times like that you simply act in a manner that feels right to you and live with the consequences of your actions. Besides, you're not simply giving to get – you're just being a good human being.

So, don't move unless you can answer the 4 questions above and then put some pep in your step.

4. Seek to help

This is one the most missed principle in the art of killer networking. Killer networkers truly believe in helping others. In fact, it is the nucleus of why they network in the first place. Sure, there is a very public agenda to advance in your own dreams and goals; however, there is a clear understanding of how powerful it is when you simply help others achieve their dreams and goals.

Killer Networking requires that you genuinely seek to help others. That means that you deliberately seek to understand the desires of others and then apply your true gifts and talents to help them achieve the results they desire.

Most people, when they attend a networking event, go with one purpose – to hand out as many business cards as possible and talk about how great they are. This is utterly useless – not to mention obnoxious. Does anyone else find this person or annoying or is it just me?

If you truly want to improve your networking skills – take it to the highest level – seek to genuinely help others achieve their dreams and goals. Find ways to be of great value to others and they will never forget you for that. In fact, they will automatically become your biggest cheerleaders.

The networkers who only talk about themselves and their perceived greatness come off as the type who don't need cheerleaders because they've already got it all. No one needs to talk about these people because according to them they are all set – NOT!

So, remember, killer networkers truly seek to help others achieve their dreams and goals.

5. Keep your word

This is so important! The truth is this is not only the quickest and most effective way to grow your influence – not doing it is the quickest way to shrink your circle. All killer networkers know that it is imperative that they keep their word.

If you say that you are going to do something – do it. Don't over exaggerate your influence and be sure to under-promote and then over-deliver. When you keep your word, you deposit into the truest bank account. The more deposits you make the more willing others become to help you out when you need it. Again, the more trustworthy you are the more cheerleaders you are going to have and the faster your network explodes.

When you develop a circle of trust around you in your network; other people clamor to get into it. Your word is your bond – it means everything. If you can't keep your word, you might as well quit networking right now because all your efforts will be in futility.

Just think about how you feel when others don't deliver on what they say they will. Do you continue a fruitful relationship with such individuals or entities? Of course not – even on a second chance to make good, we move very cautiously.

So, keep your word and watch your network explode beyond your wildest dreams.

6. Stay in touch

One of the most important things you can do to maintain your network is to stay in touch on a regular basis. This takes effort and commitment and you must be willing to do it in order to yield the best results.

Killer networkers are masters at follow up and staying in touch. Often times they tend to call unexpectedly but somehow right at the most needed times. So often I call people where they say to me "Dean, I am so glad you called me today. I really needed to hear that."

Not only does that feel really great to hear that you were able to make somebody's day but also, people remember these moments forever. They never forget what you did.

For instance, one of my great mentors has a wife that suffered a heart attack and stroke. Of course this was an extremely difficult time for him. Now I don't know what his health plan is like but I do know it's the best of the best just because of whom he is and where he works.

With that said, I could just see the toll this was taking on him and I could only imagine what his wife was going through. I didn't really know if or how I could help him through this – I only know that I felt compelled to do something.

I didn't care about what he could and might do for me – I just really wanted to help. In that vein, I decided to send him an e-mail that outlined an alternative health care regimen for individuals who suffer heart attacks and strokes. It cost me nothing but a little time since I am a member of Natural Cures.com. I simply went to the website – looked up the info and sent it to him.

Needless to say, he has never forgotten this gesture nor do I think he ever will. The bottom line is he is one of my biggest cheerleaders and if I ever need anything at all, all I have to do is pick up the phone.

Now, you might think to yourself that this was a calculated move; however, authenticity is key in these situations. Our family truly does strive to live an organic, process-free life and we are constantly looking for alternative health regimens. What I sent to my mentor was literally a piece of my own life – it's how I care for my family.

The point is that regardless of what anyone might think – my gesture was genuine and he knows it. That is all that matters.

So, I realize that staying in touch and seeking to help could almost be one topic; however, it is important to understand that by staying in touch you get more chances to find genuine ways to help others. This is the quest of all killer networkers.

7. Ask for help

Of course, there is really no use having a vast network if you can't lean on them to help you achieve your own dreams and goals. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this.

It is only wrong when you use others to achieve your ends. In other words, if you only reach out to people for what they can do for you – that's called using. On the other hand, if you truly reach out to others to help them, there is no shame in asking for help when you need it.

As a matter of fact, all killer networkers understand one very crucial thing about networking – you can't do it alone. Independence only yields good results; however, the greatest results are achieved through collaboration – synergy.

There is nothing wrong with asking for help when you truly need it. Other people feel empowered and more confident when you seek out their help. You can do a lot for others in helping them achieve significant strides in their own personal growth by simply reaching out to them for help.

While you should never look outwardly for validation – it is always nice to be recognized for your true gifts and talents. When you ask others for help, it is another way of affirming their unique gifts. It is a great way to say that I appreciate you and I need your help to achieve my goals.

So, don't forget to ask for help when you truly need it – no one will be mad at you for that as long as you remain genuine.

Master these 7 steps and you will undoubtedly catapult your networking skills to heights unimagined. Killer Networkers know and practice these 7 religiously and the results they achieve are the proof in the pudding.

 

  

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It’s Not You… It’s Me

What a burning shame

So many who know not what they do or say kicking dirt on my name

Their mean words penetrate

Making me feel tattered and battered; a mere patch of dried grass on which to defecate

Overcome by depression

As I wallow in my blinding ignorance unaware of the cause of my own futile aggression

Why can't I see?

That the only way to be free is to realize that it's not you… it's me

 

So terrible you wish me ill

Yet and still I am addicted to your barrage of verbal pain like a pill

Love me or love me not

I keep leaving me behind waiting to be defined by you because I think you're all I've got

I am simply not enough

But you're my one-stop shop for props to hold me up when times are rough

And in my ignorance of how to be

I just can't seem to understand that to be free, I have to realize that it's not you… it's me

 

Oh, what now?

Here comes another know-it-all telling me to turn my frown upside down

As if you truly know my plight

Or how the world always makes me feel like I can only exist in the modes of fight or flight

Eyes wide shut

I don't know whether I am in bliss or the abyss until you kiss me or punch me in the gut

Some say it's as easy as 1-2-3

But I just can't believe I'm already free; if only I would realize that it's not you… it's me

 

Tears trickle down my cheek

And still I protract the façade of being a victim of the system which keeps me weak

Sink or swim, stand or fall

I constantly live in the aftermath of my chosen path; my choice, my doing, my call

Hell today, Heaven tomorrow

It might feel strange but I can still change; choose sweet happiness and discard sorrow

Cliché though it may be

I'll never be truly free until I truly believe; I must realize that it's not you… it's me

 

~Ode to truly seeing you

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Life Without Limitations

You've probably heard the usual drivel about living life without limitations. And yes, you've probably also heard a good deal of useful information on the same; either way, it is not always easy to grasp or apply. In my experience, I have found that much of this information fail to put 2 very important elements into perspective.

In fact, I further believe that without having these 2 elements in the proper perspective; it will prove much more difficult to achieve your personal growth objectives and overcome limitations. This is why, I want to approach living a life without limitations from a totally different aspect; my goal is to help you understand and clarify the importance of the 2 elements often left out – Learning Styles and Our Views.

Preface

It can often be hard to truly believe in infinite possibilities; especially since most of our formative years are inundated by limiting conditioning. Even in most schools growing up, we are often taught that there are only but so many ways you can do something – many times you are led to believe there is in fact just one way to do most things.

To make matters worse, we are often provided only one way to learn even though it is a well-known fact that individuals learn differently. This is very important to understand before you can begin to grasp the mindset of a life without limitations.

What's your learning style?

There are in fact 3 learning styles:

1. Auditory – some people learn best and absorb information much more quickly by listening. These individuals excel whenever information is presented to them in this format which allows them to interpret what they hear in their own way. They learn best through lectures, discussions and debate.

    

2. Visual – other people grasp information much more quickly when they can see a demonstration or examples of what they are learning. It is important for the visual learner to be able to see what is happening in order to absorb the information fully. These individuals must be able to see expression and body language which helps them understand the information more thoroughly.

    

3. Kinesthetic – these types of learners have to get their hands in the mix. They need to be able to touch whatever it is that they are supposed to grasp in order to fully understand the information. They learn by touching, moving and doing; workshop and interactive presentations work best for these folks.

The importance of pointing out the different learning styles to help you further understand how limiting our conditioning can be just through growing up and schooling. As we move even further into adulthood, that narrow approach seems to get even narrower – for most people anyway.

In order to truly live a life without limitations, it is crucial that you not only understand what kind of learner you are but also how to truly change your mindset from one of limiting to one of abundance.

You see, one of the main reasons so many find it difficult to overcome challenges or to believe in infinite possibilities is because they do not understand how they learn best. When you do not understand what type of learner you are, goals move a lot farther away from you and become much more difficult to achieve. This of course leads to frustration and the "I can't" attitude that limits most of us.

With that said, the goal of this article is to help you understand that a life without limitations is indeed possible. You only have to believe it and then pay the price to discover what you need to do to manifest this in your life. Your personal growth will most certainly improve significantly and much more rapidly once you are able to grasp this concept.

Before you move on, you can choose to take a test to figure out what kind of learner you are.

Where to begin

Living a life without limitations begins with your level of belief in your abilities. The most important ability we all have is that of choice; it's important that you understand that all things are precipitated by choice. Either by yours or someone else's but nonetheless, our choices determine the results we ultimately achieve.

We have what we have and we are where we are because of the choices we've made. Whether you are aware of it or not or believe it or not – this is a universal principle – it is unbiased and unchanging.

Once you understand what type of learner you are then you will be much more equipped to deal with the second part of developing a limitless mindset. You will most certainly be a lot more effective in your pursuits and personal growth improvements than you would be otherwise.

SEE-FEEL-DO-GET

Removing personal growth and success limitations requires that you understand the "see-feel-do-get" concept. Essentially, the principle is this: how we SEE things, affects how we FEEL, which affects what we DO, which determines the results we ultimately GET.

You see, it is truly a changing of your mindset that is needed to remove limitations.

We all have conditioned beliefs that are based on our experiences – it is these experiences that fuel our level of awareness which directly affects how we see things. The way we see things always influence how we feel; for example:

Let's say that you have a best friend who has always been there for you no matter what. One day you find yourself in a financial bind and of course the first person you can think of from which to borrow money. When you approach your friend however, he/she not only says no but also begins to withdraw from you. Now you are left wondering what is wrong with your friend and even whether or not this is a true friend at all.

Based on your experience with this person, you see him/her as your best friend – one who is always there for you no matter what. With this new hiccup, you now begin to think differently; you might even consider that this person isn't a true friend.

Let's look at it another way…

What if you knew in advance that your best friend had been burned twice before by friends that he/she thought were true friends? He/she loaned money in the past and it created negative relationships between them. Would that piece of information not make you think differently? You may even consider not even asking your best friend for money knowing what his/her past experience has been – right?

This is an oversimplified analogy perhaps; however, I think it gets the point across. This is why the way we SEE a particular situation will always affect how we FEEL about it.

Once you check your feelings; what you do will always follow in like form. For instance in the example above, you might begin to reconsider your friendship with this person due to their actions and how it made you feel. Of course, you would feel differently if you had the information about your best friends past which would cause you to DO something totally different.

And of course, depending on what you DO, what you GET will be a direct result of your choice in action. On the one hand, you could end up ending a friendship and on the other; you may develop a deeper understanding of each other and even become closer.

As it pertains to developing the mindset in order to live a life without limitations, you must be able to change first the way you SEE things. The point is that there is always an answer to overcoming any challenge you might face. This is where the most difficult blockage lies for most – the belief that you are unable to change the way you view yourself and the world around you.

If you think deeply about this, you will see that it is downright asinine to perpetuate this belief even one second longer. I mean think about it…

Refusing to believe you can change the way you SEE something is like saying that you will continue to believe the same thing on Wednesday as you did on Monday no matter what happened on Tuesday.

Really?

Man hits himself on his thumb with a hammer on Monday and goes to the doctor on Tuesday; he says "Doc, my thumb hurts badly." Doc says "why does your thumb hurt so badly?" Man says, "I keep hitting it with a hammer." Doc says, "Ok, take two of these pills and please stop hitting your thumb with a hammer."

Man comes back on Wednesday and says "Hey doc, my thumb hurts again – can you give me two more pills please?" Doc says, "Sure, but please tell me why your thumb hurts this time?" Man says, "Doc, I keep hitting it with a hammer." Doc says, "I can give you two more pills for your pain symptoms; however, it won't cure your problem." Man says, "Doc I don't understand, what is my problem?" "Well", said the doc as he hits the man on his thumb with a hammer, "I've got no pills to cure stupidity!"

Are you getting the picture here? We all have the power to change the way we SEE any situation; especially when you are aware of the obstacle or the problem. The truth is that as your level of awareness increases, it becomes easier to see other possibilities. For some of us (most), it sadly does not seem to work this way.

Once you are able to change the way you SEE things, how you FEEL, what you DO and the results you GET will also change to mirror your view.

Life Without Limitations

What does this have to do with living a life without limitations?

It's SIMPLE – once you begin to truly believe that you have the ability to change the way you SEE things, believing in limitless possibilities becomes a lot easier. You see, it all boils down to how you see yourself and the world around you. If you can truly believe that no matter what the situation, there is always an answer, then you can begin to live a life without limitations.

As you continue to change the way you SEE things to ultimately affect the results you desire, possibilities will be endless.

You know, one of the most incredible discoveries I have ever come across is how freeing it is when you allow your spirit – your conscience – to guide your choices. Rather than simply appeasing your physical circumstance, lead with the spirit and allow the heart, mind and body to follow.

Leading with the spirit fosters the belief in limitless possibilities. Everything is first spiritual before it is manifested in the physical world.

Living a life without limitations essentially means that you embrace and believe in the following:

All things are possible; you can always change the way you see things and that you have the ability to choose your own destiny.

 

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My Personal Spiritual Journey

I was inspired to write this article for 3 reasons.

First, because I have been consciously evolving in a spiritual way for most of my life and this article is in part an evolution of my spirituality and also a way of helping me develop a deeper understanding of my journey.

Second, because experience has taught me that spiritual growth often times can be a confusing and even arduous endeavor; gaining clarity is supremely important.

Third, my sincere hope is that my journey thus far helps you overcome any challenges you might be facing in your own spiritual pursuits. Although this entire article is about my spiritual journey, my goal as always when I write an article is that it creates value for you in some way.

This is a very personal topic and it is with sincere love and respect that I put fingers to keyboard to bring it to life. My hope is that you find value in the evolution of the message.

In the beginning…

I was raised to be a Christian. My parents have a deep and abiding belief in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. In growing up, my parents obviously passed on the best of themselves to me and my siblings. Part of this was of course how they chose to pursue their spirituality – to achieve connection to the divine creator.

In this vein, I was taught to believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I went to church, read the King James Bible and prayed every day (Well almost every day… ). During my childhood up to my teens, You could say that by all accounts I was a Christian.

By the time I reached my mid teens though, I noticed that I started to struggle with my Christian beliefs. I became unsure of what I was truly supposed to believe and what it truly meant to me. At the time, it didn't seem like such a big deal – I mean I had girls to think about – oh yeah – and school too.

What was certain was that I was very unsure of where my spirituality was going – I wasn't even sure at the time whether or not I thought it was truly important. Still, I was still Christian, still attending church and still reading the bible and praying because I thought it was the right thing to do. For the first time in my spiritual journey, I was truly searching for my own answers.

What happened next…

Over the next few years through my experiences, I began to feel very differently. I started to look at religion and spirituality in a new way. I no longer saw the point of any religion – in fact, I thought that they were all powerful devices designed to control others through fear and wonder.

With this new found enlightenment, I became rebellious against organized religion and began to pursue the Atheist beliefs. Essentially, in my late teens up to my mid twenties, I truly believed that there was no God and certainly no such thing as heaven or hell. I believed that my thoughts were my own – derived through my own internal motivation and inspiration. I did not believe in any life after physical death.

Furthermore, I was sure that the body, mind, heart and spirit although connected were in fact just different pieces in the same puzzle. I thought that what affected one did not necessarily affect the other.

Some of these feelings and new found beliefs were brought on by some of the greed and controlling attitudes that I witnessed in the religious world. I saw a lot of disingenuous acts by so-called Christians that truly turned me off.

This evolution had taken me to what I now refer to as the dark side of my being where I believed in nothing. The only thing that mattered was the present and what I did to affect it. During this chapter of my life, it was all about me.

A new chapter…

Still, my spirit was not settled – I was still at war within over where I truly belonged in the spiritual sense. With all the things that we go through in life – this issue did not seem so important at the time and yet it was a big draw on my energy.

I spent a great deal of time trying to find some sense of direction – a sign of some kind that said hey – this is the way to true enlightenment. Although I did not make it a point of focus to search for such an outlet or vessel, my mind remained open to any possibility.

By this time in my life, I had also begun another journey – the pursuit of personal excellence. In so doing, I also began to share my experiences with others in an effort to help them improve their own personal growth. This new way of learning, growing and sharing seemed to come very natural to me. I began to feel truly alive in ways I hadn't experienced before.

It was through this vessel that I came upon my next spiritual evolution. I was introduced to the Palo way of life. Palo, which comes out of the African Congo, is a way of life that says that we are all connected. This way of life advocates calling upon one's ancestral spirits to provide inspiration, guidance and enlightenment. In so doing, we channel this energy to improve our lives and the lives of those you touch through what you do.

Being a part of Palo seemed to sit much better with my spiritual being. I was more in-tuned with myself – with who I am and much more aware of others and my surroundings. I began to respect all life and embrace differences. Through meditation, I was able to go into that part of myself that I admit had eluded me my whole life up until that point. The clarity in my choices that I experienced during this spiritual evolution was amazing.

The personal growth I experienced as a Palero was incredible; I can hardly describe the tremendous energy I felt every day at this point in my life.

What truly appealed to me was the concept that the body, mind, heart and spirit are one; that when these four quadrants are in alignment, true greatness occurs. As I continued to grow personally and help others to do the same, I truly began to feel the power of the universal force that binds us all working through me.

It was also during this part of my spiritual journey that I began to truly believe that I am a part of everything and that everything is a part of me. I began to understand that the universal force – the divine – was working through all of us as one even though we functioned separately. I realized that the only thing that can block our true greatness is in fact us.

As tremendous an impact that Palo has had on my personal growth and spiritual development, it too started to tug at me. As I continued to evolve personally and spiritually, there were some things about the Palo way of life that began to fall out of alignment with my core values – my inner compass. As I became more connected with who I truly am as well as more connected with others, the Palo doctrines no longer seemed to be the perfect fit. It became more like trying to stick a round peg into a square hole.

This was initially very confusing for me; however, through the great examples of my mentors and seeking true understanding, I was able to come to terms with what was happening to me.

Coming of age…

After I separated myself from the Palo way of life, a new evolution began in my spiritual growth. I read as much as I could and learned as much as I could in an effort to become even more keenly self-aware.

It had taken some time – up to my early thirties, but I finally realized what I had been searching for all along. You see, up until this point, I was always looking outward for the answers to my spiritual growth instead of looking where I needed to look in the first place – inward.

In looking within, I discovered some key things which changed my entire perspective on spirituality and gave me true direction and purpose.

My true purpose in life is to help others recognize and appreciate their true gifts and talents so that they can achieve their dreams and goals. I wrote my mission statement specifically to embody this vision.

What I discovered was that we are all here to serve each other in one way or another. Our true purpose is to create and distribute value to others through what we do. It doesn't matter so much what you do – only that you derive true fulfillment from it and that others benefit from your work.

With this in mind, and looking inward, I discovered that my core values, my true beliefs and my spiritual direction were in fact the same. In other words, I know that I am here on this physical plane to be of service; I also know that my true passion in life is the pursuit of excellence in myself and helping others find the same in themselves. I further believe that by aligning my body, mind, heart and spirit whereby my spirit is the guiding force behind my choices, I will achieve the greatest results in myself and others.

In this belief, each and every day that I am alive, I strive to be more aligned; to be more than I was yesterday and be more of a benefit in the lives of others. I endeavor to give without expectation and continue to learn new things each day.

The most incredible discovery of all at this point was that we are all in a state of constant evolution whether we are aware of it or not. To the degree that you are aware of this principle of evolution, your success in directing your power will mirror that degree.

With my own inner compass – my core values – as the guiding force in my life, I continue to feed the four quadrants of my being in the most positive ways. It's not always easy; however, it is simple once I commit to the follow through. As I continue to do this, I continue to grow in unimaginable ways that allow me to be more effective in achieving my goals and helping others to achieve theirs.

This does not mean that there is nothing else to learn from others. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. There is an unlimited amount of knowledge to gain from everyone and everything once you remain open to receiving the value in all things. This is the greatest gift of the universe; finding the value in all things. First you must believe that there is for only then will you be able to see it.

At this point in my spiritual journey, I was deeply humbled and fulfilled; not just because of where I was but even more so about where I was going. You see, my hope for the future became brighter and I truly began to believe in limitless possibilities.

I still cannot find words to explain why; however, this has been the most incredible feeling that I have ever experienced. Believing through and through, understanding and knowing in your heart of hearts that all things are possible is what fuels the never-ending circle of excellence.

No more labels…

It was through this self-discovery that I also realized what had been truly tugging at me each time I made a spiritual transition. It was the fact that each was labeled in some fashion. Each doctrine required that you give up certain things; do things a certain way or else. These infrastructures to me seemed more controlling and limiting than anything else – thus I was unable to accept them fully.

That being said, I have found something else that is truly fascinating.

Although I have not done in-depth studies on these, I have found it to be true of all major religious orders, ways of life and faiths. They are all built on these three principles:

First, that there is an existing power – energy – a universal force that is beyond our comprehension that connects us all. Whether we refer to this force as the Creator, God, Allah, Buddha, Yahweh or Tata Sambe doesn't really matter.

Second, that through our pursuit to become more connected to this source and lead others to it is where true happiness lies. The more connected we are the more success we see in all areas of our lives and the lives of others which effectively leads to greater happiness.

Third, that the more we live true to this awareness and do our very best through our choices and actions to bring others true happiness, the closer we get to this source – or as Christians say – the closer we get to God.

I truly believe in these three principles and I further believe that it doesn't matter how you pursue them so long as you do so for righteous reasons. Because of this, labels simply do not work for me in my spiritual pursuits. I believe that I have as much to learn from Christians as I do Buddhists. No one has a monopoly on the truth or in how we pursue our connection to the universal force that binds us all.

This belief of course is mine and it is personal; it has nothing to do with having you believe the same.

The truth is that whether you consider yourself a Christian, a Buddhist, a Jew, a Gentile, a Hindu, an Agnostic or you just consider yourself spiritual, no religious title will ever be as important as how you live your life.

As one unknown author puts it…

"There are limits to the time you have to live; however, there are no limits to how you live your time."

Regardless of what faith you choose to follow, the more important factor is that you endeavor to create and distribute value to others. Your choices and your actions must be grounded in correct principle – the natural laws of the universe in order for you to ascend spiritually.

So what do I know…

Everything and Nothing!

I know everything about what I believe to be true today and nothing about the evolution of tomorrow because I have not yet gone through it. This is to simply say that I know that I am in a state of constant evolution and that change is inevitable. This is the reason that it is so important to live from a principle center.

You see, it doesn't matter how much you know or how much things change, principles do not. They operate in the same manner – unbiased and unchanging no matter what. What I am saying is that there is no substitute for doing the right things.

As it relates to my (your) spiritual growth, so long as you truly believe in your heart of hearts that your actions are the right thing to do, you feed your spiritual growth in the most positive ways. Certainly when you do something that is not righteous, the consequences will be the same whether you are aware of it or not. The difference is that if you truly were unaware that your actions were negative and you live from a principle center, changing your direction will be an easy decision.

All of this in summary just means that spiritual growth takes place in many ways and comes in many forms. What I have learned is that you have to do what makes the most sense for you.

In other words, if being a Buddhist helps you put your best self forward in improving your life and the lives of others, by all means go with that. As long as your inner compass stays pointed on true north, you're good.

There truly is no wrong or right in any religion – only in the way we interpret their principles and live our lives. This means that it is not the label that grows your spirituality; it is what you give and what you do.

It is only when you are open to receive the wisdom and energy of that divine connection that connects us all – only then can you truly experience the power of the universal energy working through you.

And the saga continues…

My spiritual journey continues and will infinitely be in a state of constant evolution. The more I grow personally and the more aware I become, the more aligned I will be. Furthermore, I believe that we are all meant for greatness; we have only to truly believe it to manifest it.

Spiritually, I have never been clearer about how to pursue my spiritual growth. What works for me is a life without labels; I love to learn from everyone and everything. It is extremely important to me that I remain free of devices that alter my choices simply based on an organized doctrine. My choices are made from a center of principle – well most of the time anyway – after all I am no angel.

All I am simply saying is that when I am putting my best self forward, my aim is always to do the right thing. I allow my spirit – my conscience to guide my choices and actions. I operate in service to others and I truly seek to find the best in all situations.

Whether you believe it or not, I am connected to you and you are connected to me; we are all connected to each other. To me that means that the more I elevate my consciousness and help others to elevate theirs in my own way, the more connected we become and the closer we are to that universal force that binds us all.

In a nutshell, while my spiritual journey will continuously evolve, the principles by which I pursue my spirituality and my life will remain the same.

FAQ…

Ok, so I can imagine if you've read this far, you probably have a few bubbling questions. At least, I know I would after reading this.

Well, you can always drop me a note if you want to know more.

In the meantime, I've anticipated that the following questions may be some of the more burning ones that are begging for answers. I will attempt to answer them right here right now.

Q: Do you believe in God and the Devil?

A: Yes; however, perhaps not in the same way most might. I believe that the universal force (God) that binds us all lives in all of us and to the degree that we believe and are aware of this, the more connected we become.

It stands to reason then that I believe that there is a universal force that can separate us (Devil); therefore, the less we believe and the less aware we are, the more disconnected we become.

To me, God and the Devil is how we collectively choose to channel the universal force that binds us all. I do not believe that God and the Devil are one and separate beings from one another but rather two sides of the same force that is connected to everyone and everything.

Q: Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?

A: Again, yes; however, probably not in the traditional sense. Heaven and Hell I believe are created by the choices we make right here and right now. I do not believe that these are separate places where we go when we die but rather the realities that we create while we live.

Heaven then would be represented by true happiness and hell by utter despair and sadness. I believe that if you choose to pursue excellence and endeavor to create and distribute value to others in a way that truly fulfills and enriches your life and the lives of others that you will effectively create your heaven.

In that vein, I believe that the opposite is true for creating your own hell. If you only pursue the worst in yourself, create and distribute no value for others and continue to live an empty unfulfilling life, you will effectively create your hell.

Essentially, I do not believe that heaven and hell are physical places but rather states of being.

Q: What do you believe happens when we die?

A: I DON'T KNOW! Truthfully, I could never even formulate an answer for this because until it happens or someone who has died tells you, I don't think you can know.

But, the question is what do I believe happens… right? Well, I believe that we simply go back to being a part of that universal force that binds us all – just in a different form. This is because I also believe that this physical life is only one state of being and that everything is first spiritual before it is physical.

I truly hope that this article has helped you in some way in your own spiritual journey. If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me.

Happy evolving!

 

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The Seed of Hope

My friend Sam writes a pretty impressive blog called The Seed of Hope. I absolutely love the work that he does with this blog; it is truly inspiring. It is not really a surprise that the name of Sam's blog is now one of my article titles because my friend's blog truly drives home the whole point of planting seeds of hope.

The goal of this article is to help raise your awareness to the fact that we are all constantly planting seeds of hope or despair. It is important that you grasp this concept so that you can in turn make healthier choices about the things you say and do.

Once you are able to understand how much what you say and do affect others, you will instantly see why it is so important to make sure you are planting seeds of hope rather than those of despair.

Have you ever heard the story of Kyle? Please take a moment to read his story…

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him, so I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks." They really should get lives. "He looked at me and said "Hey, thanks."

There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.

When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous!

Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.

I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.

Not until that moment did I realize its depth.

Never underestimate the power of your words and actions. If not for this one kind gesture – someone having the courage to plant the seed of hope, Kyle would be just another statistic. The idea of the seed of hope is pretty simple…

…say or do something to help another person believe in possibilities that they otherwise would not have. It is the act of letting someone else know that he/she can when all he/she can think of is CAN'T.

The fact is that you just never know how your words and actions will affect others. This is the reason why it is so important to be responsible for what we say and do because you can truly add value to people's lives when you focus on the positives.

As one of my friends once put it…

"You can remove the nails from the fence but the holes are still there."

Essentially, what it means is that you can't take back your words and actions once you've said or done them. Certainly, we all make mistakes and for those times when we hurt others unintentionally – we can apologize and take steps to make amends.

The important thing to understand is that we are all capable of planting seeds of hope or despair so we ought to be more conscientious about the things we say and do to others.

Planting seeds of hope can happen just by chance as in the story above – just by being a nice person; however, there are definitely habits you can develop to ensure that you consistently plant seeds of hope.

Following are 3 habits that will most certainly help you become a more consistent hope seed planter.

Affirm others

One of the most effective ways to plant seeds of hope is to consistently affirm others. This builds confidence and inspires others to greatness they never thought they possessed.

The power of affirming others is so tremendous because it tells those whom you affirm that you recognize their gifts – that you do in fact see them and appreciate them. In a moment of doubt and negativity, a simple affirmation of another could literally turn suicidal thoughts into thoughts of life. You just never know.

It could be as simple as looking someone in the eyes and saying "I believe in you. You can do this."

One of my mentors consistently affirms me by simply giving me a gem when it's time for me to present or speak in front of an audience. He'd always say "Dean, all you have to do is rub this gem and they can't touch you. You got this – you know your stuff."

I am not sure he knows; however, those moments really do help a lot – they plant a seed of hope every single time.

Don't forget to tell others how much you appreciate what they do – it will always go a long way.

Understand others

Can you remember that last time you felt truly understood by another human being? How did it make you feel? It's an incredible feeling isn't it?

Sometimes, all it takes to plant the seed of hope is to show others that you truly understand them – empathize with their plight.

The important thing here is to make sure that you are genuine – that you truly want to understand what the other person is going through. Seeking to understand has to be real – you have to mean it – you have to truly want to understand. This is the only way that the other person will feel the connection you are trying to make. Unless that connection is made, you won't be able to plant the seed of hope.

Understanding is a major human need – we all seek to be understood – and when we are, kit makes us feel great. There is nothing better than an understanding soul to tame frustrated beast.

It's simple – when you feel frustrated because you believe that no one understands you – the seed of hope is planted the moment you come across someone that does truly understand you. You instant begin to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel because someone else can truly relate to what you are experiencing.

Understanding always plants the seed of hope.

Share & Teach

Another one of my mentors always said that the best way to continue learning is to share and teach what you know to others. I have found that this is definitely true. Furthermore, I have also found that it's a powerful way to plant seeds of hope.

It is through our experiences and knowledge that we can impart some of who we are on others and touch their lives. Different people may find different elements of value in your knowledge and experience; however, unless you share it – unless you teach others, those seeds of hope remain dormant.

It's not about you showing off because you know something that others may not; it is about truly sharing yourself so that others might benefit from your knowledge and experience. Knowledge is useless unless it is shared. In fact it is our duty as a human being to share our knowledge and experience in an effort to make others better – to make the world better.

You don't have to try to save the world; however, we can all make the genuine effort to help those we connect with be better than they were when you met them. The whole point is that you plant seeds of hope consistently when you strive to use knowledge and experiences to leave the world a better place than it was while you were a part of it.

Consistently developing these 3 habits will ensure that you are always planting seeds of hope rather than those of despair.

If you need more inspiration, pop over to my friend, Sam's blog for an instant lift. Tell him I sent you.

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Why You Shouldn’t Read My Blog

The title of this post may shock you; after all, the point of having a blog is that others will read the content. In fact, I expect it! With that said, it begs the question: Why would I write an article titled "Why You Shouldn't Read My Blog?"

One of my mentors once encouraged me to not only read books that interest me or that are in line with my principles and values but also to read those that are not. He said read often, read everything so that you might develop a more well-rounded view of the world and even if you derive no other value but that it strengthens your convictions in your own beliefs, it would still be totally worth it. You know what – he's right. I have found this lesson to be tremendously beneficial in my life.

Since I began publishing this blog, I have received many comments, questions, concerns, applause, praise, ridicule, indifference, love, support, challenges, rebuttals, alliance and so forth. What has been most interesting are the individuals that either peg me as a bull shit artist with the gift of gab or a guru with a magic pill to fix all problems.

The truth is that I am neither of the two and if you wish to continue to believe that I am either one, you shouldn't read my blog.

A journey not a pit stop

My blog, which is my gift to you, is a journey and not a pit stop. Many of us only desire the end result of hard work; however, we have little interest in the hard work part. Many of us have no desire to pay the price for greatness and yet still we claim to desire it.

Pit stops are for race cars and road trip bathroom breaks – not personal growth.

You have probably seen dozens – hundreds maybe – of websites all warning you to beware of "quick fixes" and all the while they are only buttering you up to sell you their version of a "quicker fix."

The truth is that there is no such thing – you won't find it here or anywhere else no matter what you've heard. Use your brains – I think you have one – and think for a moment…

If "quick fixes" really worked would anyone really have to sell it to you? Furthermore, you already know that if they did in fact produce desirable results – many people wouldn't even want to share the secrets.

If you are looking for a "quick fix" for your personal growth and development, you definitely shouldn't read my blog.

I am whatever you say I am…

When you read the content on this website; you are reading words that flow directly from my experiences. I put in my body, mind, heart and spirit into every post. Sometimes, they may not hit the spot for you and other times, they may be just what you need.

The truth is that my goal in writing and expanding upon this website is not only to grow personally but to ensure that what I am putting out is of value to others. While all of this is my passion, the work and the effort are all about you.

I am whatever you say I am – this means that the value that I represent to you is not how I perceive it to be but rather what you perceive it to be. I cannot take the audacious position of presuming exactly how I am a value to you – this is a very personal thing – something you must decipher on your own.

The way that you receive and interpret my work may be totally different from the way someone else does and that is ok – in fact – it's expected.

The most important thing is this; while you continue to visit and read the content here, you have a right to expect a value for your time. Whether the value helps you improve in your personal growth, build your character, jazz up your personality or simply strengthen your convictions, you should definitely expect to receive a value for your time.

If you are not deriving some kind of value to your life by spending time here, you shouldn't read my blog.

Compensation

I do believe that when you create and distribute value to others, you should expect to receive a fair compensation for the value that you provide. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Compensation can come in many forms – it is your choice what forms you choose to accept for the value that you create. In any event, there is no reason that you shouldn't get paid for the work you do.

Of course, getting compensated for the value you provide should not be confused with the reason you do what you do. In other words, if you do what you do only to receive compensation, then the value that you create and distribute will only be to you. If anything but your conscience (your spirit) is the guiding force what you decide to do with your life, your value to others will be greatly diminished.

As for this blog, my gift to you, the reason for its existence is untainted by the pursuit for the almighty dollar – compensation. The work I do here and in other places and my circle expand comes from within – it is my true passion and purpose in life and I do it because it brings me joy and fulfillment beyond my wildest dreams.

With that said, I am by no means naïve. We live, after all, in a material world and in this world, the way you sustain your lifestyle so that you can continue to create and distribute value to others is by earning a paycheck of some sort. Whether you work for someone else or you are an entrepreneur, the fact is you have to get paid or suffer the consequences.

While the reasons behind my choices do not include money in any way, I do expect to be paid a fair price for the value I provide. I like being able to care for my family and live a lifestyle that makes me feel good about what I have accomplished. I don't need materials to feed my ego; however, I do need to live somewhere, clothe myself and eat healthily.

If you don't think I deserve compensation for the value I provide – that's ok – you're entitled to your opinion. Nonetheless, I do expect fair compensation for the work I do – not because that's the reason I do it but because it is correct principle and it's how we sustain ourselves in the physical world.

If you don't believe that people deserve fair compensation for the value that they provide, guess what – you shouldn't read my blog.

Finally…

You shouldn't read my blog if you have no desire whatsoever to be better than you are today; to be of service to others; if you only wish to continue your meaningless pursuit of a mediocre life where you simply bounce from point to point with no real purpose or desire to seek it; with no openness to embrace change, respect differences, show love and receive love; if you choose not to be a human being, respect the universe and value principles; if you choose not to live a life in gratitude, appreciation, and generosity; if you have no hope for the future, if you believe in nothing and fall for everything; if you are a pessimistic cynic who thinks only of the worst in others while ignoring the best; if you only think of yourself first, foremost and always which is the mindset of a complete moron – YOU SHOULDN'T READ MY BLOG!

Now send me an e-mail right now if you made it all the way to the end of this article. Will I see you again here?

 

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Discover successful habits that allow you to discover, master and unleash your remarkable untapped human potential through the Powerful Principles of Personal Growth Newsletter.

 

Growth by Design

Truly successful individuals do not believe in succeeding by accident. They set goals and take deliberate steps to achieve them. Instead of growing simply by default, truly successful individuals grow by design.

It’s a simple concept; however, as one great man once said and I heard, “SIMPLE isn’t always EASY!”

He is so right. When it comes to principles – natural laws – they are truly simple concepts that anyone can grasp. The problem that most of us face when it comes to living true to principles is that it’s not always easy. When emotions take hold or fears set in, choosing to make principle-centered decisions often becomes harder.

Sure, I understand that not every decision we make will come from a principle-centered place; however, truly successful individuals make most of their decisions from that place. Especially when it comes to progressive and life-changing choices, it is important for us to make sure that we’re the ones driving the bus.

Growth by Design simply means that you are proactive in the choices you make; that you take full responsibility for your own personal growth and the success you achieve. It says that you have a program and that you are the programmer. Your choices are based on your core values and the true principles by which you abide and live your life.

Following are 3 elements that are crucial in the thought process of truly successful individuals that understand what it means to grow by design instead of by default as the majority of people do.

Choice over Have to

Truly successful individuals understand that all thoughts and actions are precipitated by Choice. They do not believe in the “have to” in any given situation. The fact is that choice is the ultimate power. Choice is the difference between the cards you are dealt versus the cards you play; you can change your hand.

By making choices that serve your desired results, you can change the things in your life that you don’t like. Too many people – and I mean people you might consider brilliant – succumb to the whims of society and peer pressures. When your choices are made from within and they are in line with your core values, you are much more likely to not only achieve the results you desire, but also be a lot happier with you.

Everyone has the ability to choose his/her own destiny. It doesn’t matter where you are from or who your parents are – it is about whom you are and where you want to be. Truly successful individuals understand this all too and therefore make the best choices to improve their personal growth and success.

Victor over Victim

This is unfortunately a common mindset among individuals. All too often we become consumed and sometimes even morbidly content with playing the victim.

My wife puts it this way…

“Victims will always ask why me while victors will always ask why not.”

Now that is a powerfully true statement. Truly successful individuals do not believe in victimizing themselves; they are the victors in every situation even when their plans fail. They are victors because they learn from every experience – they excel at moving forward. It is important to understand that you are 100% responsible for the results you achieve in your life.

The common problem I have found in my experience is that it’s so easy to blame others and situations for our lot in life. The thing is that each time we do that, we victimize ourselves just a little bit more. Whenever we start believing that the problem is out there – that is the very problem.

The goal is to start with ourselves; when we fix ourselves, everything else tends to fall into place. Ever notice how victims like throwing pity parties even though not many people come and certainly no one brings any presents.

I get it… sometimes we get down and we want to vent or blow off some steam. Ok, so vent, blow off some steam but once you’re done, get up – dust yourself off and start pursuing your goals and dreams again with fervor. Once you start saying and believing that a setback or other people are the reasons you are not achieving your goals, you invite stagnation into your life and you become a pathetic victim.

It may be tough to hear; however, if you look inside yourself, I am confident that you will see that it is the undeniable truth.  

Change over Status Quo

Change is a constant – it is inevitable while status quo is man-made and therefore not inevitable. This is something that truly successful people understand all too well.

Too many of us spend way too much time maintaining the status quo as opposed to seeking out, creating and embracing positive and progressive change. Unless you change, you cannot grow; if you are not growing you will find that it is impossible to achieve success.

Instead of simply waiting on things to happen, truly successful individuals choose to make things happen. They create solutions to problems as opposed to simply identifying problems with no offer of solutions. When what you are doing isn’t working, you must endeavor to change it; find a way to be more effective and/or efficient.

This element is a major difference between managers and leaders. While managers chop their way through the bushes trying desperately to clear a path, leaders climb to the tallest tree top overlooking the jungle to see if there is a better way.

As one quote puts it…

“Mangers do things right; leaders do the right things.”

You see, the ultimate goal of a manager is to make sure that things are executed according to the process and procedure defined. It doesn’t much matter if it’s not the best process or the most efficient procedure – they simply want to get it done at all cost. Leaders on the other hand understand that processes and procedures are just guides and that there is always room for improvement. When leaders find a new and better way to do things, they will do everything they can to implement it – they smash the status quo.

There are so many aspects to Growth by Design that we could talk about; however, the goal of this article is to set you up with the right mindset. It is meant to raise your awareness to the fact that you are responsible for your own personal growth and success.

The only question that remains is…

Are you creating your own destiny or are you living someone else’s?

Victor or Victim – you decide.

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The 5 Levels of Initiative

Initiative is one of those words that is thrown around very loosely without any real understanding or meaning behind it – at least – in my experience. You may often hear one person telling another “you never take any initiative” or simply asking “Why don’t you take some initiative?”

The truth is that we all take initiative; the difference is usually in degree or levels and not so much the act. It is important that you understand initiative on all its levels so that you can bring real meaning to your actions. In so doing, you will be able to better access and accept the consequences of your actions.

Often times I talk to individuals whom can’t seem to grasp the consequences of their actions and in many of those cases, they are complete unaware of what or how their degree of initiative affected the situation.

You see, there are in fact 5 levels of initiative. At which level you choose to act in any given situation will be determined by your level of commitment and the importance of what you seek to do. Of course if you are neither aware of your commitment level nor the importance of your actions – you will certainly not know at what level you should initiate.

The goal of this article is to help you understand the following 5 levels of initiative so that you are more aware of your actions in any given situation.

1.   Wait until told

This of course is the absolute lowest form of initiative. What is even scarier is that this is where most people operate for all the action in their lives aside from the routine of brushing teeth and changing underwear.

Think about your own workplace…

How often have you heard some say something to the effect of “Nobody told me to do that”, or “That’s not part of my job.” We hear these types of statements constantly. We hear them even in the face of something that needs doing yet no one will take action unless someone tells them to.

In my experience, this level of initiative almost never yields any worthwhile results and it certainly does not create greatness in anyone or any project. If we were to look at the levels of initiative as a food chain, you’d be eaten alive the moment you were born if you lived on this end of the totem pole.

2.    Present and seek consensus

The next level of initiative is to present your case and seek consensus. This is most effective when you are working with a group of people. Depending on the action you want to take, it might go over a lot better if you seek consensus from your teammates. Chances are that they will go along with your plan if you are able to make them see that it will help to achieve the group’s desired result.

On the other hand, some people take this route in an effort to cover their ass. They want to make sure that if the plan fails they can say that everyone agreed with the plan so it is everyone’s fault that the plan failed.

This type of behavior is prevalent in Corporate America; everyone is most often taking initiative but always from a standpoint of covering their asses.

This level of initiative is appropriate as long as the reason for taking it is in the best interest of your team.

3.    Ask for permission

Sometimes, initiative just requires you to ask for permission. Often times, people don’t make a move and also don’t bother to find out whether or not they can make a move. Especially if the action required isn’t part of the original plan – many times people fail to simply ask for permission.

In my experience, I have found that in many cases when you simply ask for permission, it is often granted. This is almost always true when what you are seeking to do brings value to the person from whom you seek permission to act.

Although on its face this level of initiative seems easy to take, most people do not do it. They fear the response they might get; they assume they know what others will say or they doubt themselves so much that they would rather not ask.

The worst fear of people is public humiliation and if they believe that asking permission might bring about such an event, they will not ask.

I say ask away.

If you know that what you seek to do is not only important but will bring value to others, especially to the person from whom you seek permission – I say ask away. Don’t fear the response you might get – just think about the negative consequences that might occur if you don’t at least ask permission to take an important action.

Asking permission works best when the action you seek to take is out of the scope of the original plans and when the act might be intrusive to others while they are unaware of the reason.

4.    Act now and beg forgiveness later

The next level of initiative is to act first and beg forgiveness later. Most people won’t even come close to doing this for fear of the consequences.

This level of initiative takes tremendous confidence and courage. Additionally, it is important to feel in your heart of hearts that you are doing the right thing.

To act first requires that unless you simply take action, you might miss the window of opportunity to make a difference. In other words, if you were to wait to seek permission or get consensus, it would create a situation where it is too late to act.

As long as the action you seek to take will create value for yourself or others and you truly believe that it is better to act first and then beg forgiveness later, I say go for it. If your intentions are pure, there is no reason not to risk it – at least in my view.

Most people are afraid to do this because they don’t want to deal with the backlash if what they attempt doesn’t work or turns out to be an act that yields nothing. People who take this level of initiative are usually confident and believe in their heart of hearts that they are doing the right thing.

5. Just do it

This is the highest level of initiative and it is the hardest one to get to. This is the reason why most New Year’s resolutions fail miserably and why people almost never get the promotion they keep complaining that they never get.

Like Nike – most people are afraid to just do it. The fact is that there comes a time when you have to stop taking and make a move. Too many opportunities are missed because of too much talking, too much planning, and too much thinking… just too much. Sometimes all that is required is action – one act begets another which begets another until you reach your goal.

This level of initiative is never going to be comfortable – EVER! It requires you to constantly step out of your comfort zone; however, it almost always yields levels of growth you cannot even imagine. If you consistently wait for this and wait for that, you shouldn’t sit around wondering why life is passing you by. It’s no secret that it’s because you aren’t doing anything about it. Take some INITIATIVE.  

The “just do it” level of initiative works best for making changes in your life. It is the example you set for others to follow. It is the point at which you admit your fear and courageously act anyway in an effort to take right action.

This level of initiative might also apply when in a group setting where no one in the group is making a move that gets you closer to the desired result. Sometimes, even teams do not improve until someone confidently and courageously makes a move.

Sometimes, you just have to do it and live with the consequences of your actions.

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What I Learned While on Hiatus

The posting of this article marks 45 days since I went on what I am calling a hiatus from my blog. It wasn’t a planned leave; it was more like a function of what state my personal and professional life were in at the time. I wouldn’t say I was forced to take a leave of absence; however, I would definitely say I needed some thinking space.

The beauty of my hiatus is that I had no clue that I would learn so much from being absent from one of my favorite things. I absolutely love writing for this blog; I truly enjoy the responses I get about how my work impacts you. When I hear that I have added value to your life because of what I write, it fills me with hope and drive to continue.

With that said, that same fuel was derailing me in other areas; I was on a feverish pace to churn out great content regularly. If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know that I normally post about 8-10 articles a month. It turns out that this pace was getting a bit overwhelming for me largely due to my other obligations I was starting to neglect in the name of fueling my blog.

Undoubtedly, it was worth it – at least for the short run because with your support I have been able to build up a pretty good following. On the other hand, as long as I was creating and distributing value to others, I am sure that would have happened eventually anyway so it might have served be better to strike a good balance. Well, no use crying over spilled milk so let’s move on – shall we?

The incredible thing about my leave – my hiatus – is that I learned so much. I was able to observe people and the world from different perspectives. I didn’t realize how one-track minded I had become in publishing article after article without looking out the window. Once I did, I discovered a whole new world and even had an epiphany about my own situation of experiencing a bit of burn-out.

You see, publishing at the pace I was going caused some other areas of my personal and professional life to suffer. In some ways I thought that I had to keep going in order to build a solid base and I was even afraid of letting up because I thought that my following might diminish.

You know what? My following has actually increased significantly in the past 45 days – more visits and more page views. For that I truly thank you!

That in and of itself was an eye-opening lesson for me. The fact is that if my blog has valuable content, people will read it. Furthermore, I have over 5 dozen articles in my archives so unless you’re sitting at your PC for about 5-10 hours straight, you couldn’t even put a dent in this small library let alone retain or put into practice what you’ve read. The whole point is that there is more than enough content on the site to keep readers busy for 45 days.

With that said, it doesn’t mean that I don’t constantly need to publish new content – it just means that I am able to find more of a balance among all my obligations while still ensuring that the work I do on my blog is valuable and worthwhile.

While on hiatus, I discovered that I need to re-evaluate my focus and implement 3 elements into my daily life – I need to make these habits.

1.   Organization

It may not have seemed that way from the outside; however, I learned that in many ways I was extremely disorganized. From my observation of others, I realized how disorganized I was. When things are in disarray, it can quickly lead to imbalance and tip the scale in ways that are counter-productive to your desires.

What was most interesting was that I learned that although I was usually an organized person as it pertains to my physical spaces; my thoughts weren’t always. This is where my major problem lies – it was an incredible discovery. What’s more, I instantly felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders the moment that the realization hit me.

The fact is that if I want to bring balance back to my life, I have to get organized – both physically and mentally. Basically, it is when your dreams are manifesting at a momentous pace that your thoughts can become more disorganized very quickly. Well, I won’t confess anyone else’s sins – perhaps this only applies to me.    

Essentially, I learned that in order for me to move to the next phase of my journey, I have to clean house and do some mental organization. I have to refocus my thoughts and practice to tune out the unimportant ones. This way, I won’t lose sight of what is most important to me.

2.    Prioritization

I know that priority is very important when pursuing your goals and I thought I was consistent with this practice. Once again, I had a rude awakening to my own failing in this area.

Once I took off running with publishing for my blog, my focus became too narrow. It became so narrow that I lost track of the other priorities in my life. In fact, my blog became the PRIORITY.

Of course other things mattered a great deal to me; however, I had stopped checking in regularly with my blueprint thus, prioritization went out the window. In pursuit of our goals we must remember to create an action plan in order of how we will execute and then do so consistently. It is also extremely crucial to check in regularly with your action plan just to make sure that you are on your game.

The whole point of prioritization is so that you do not lose track of what is most important to you. Once you decide what those things are, your action plan is built around those so that you can accommodate them accordingly.

Again, from the outside looking in, it may seem like I was on my game as far as prioritizing; however, if you knew exactly what I considered to be the most important things to me – you’d have thought differently.

During my hiatus, I noticed so many levels of chaos and disarray in the lives of others. Some of which are people that unless you look closely, you might automatically think that they have it all together. I can tell you for sure that this is not always so.

Although prioritization was more of a refresher for me – it was definitely needed because I had lost sight of how important it is to not only prioritize but check in on your priorities. It is important to make sure that you are putting first things first and then executing around them accordingly.

3.    Execution

This goes hand in hand with the other 2 eye-openers; it was more of a natural progression of my discoveries during my hiatus. The most significant take-away to note is that I learned that you can be very good at execution while still not executing the right things in the right order which means you won’t get the results you truly desire.

Wow! That was BIG for me.

Certainly, once I get going I am pretty efficient at executing especially when I truly love what I am doing; however, without organization and prioritization, you’ll soon find that you’re executing the wrong tasks in the wrong order and at the wrong time. This can really throw a monkey wrench in your plans – the price can be steep depending on your circumstance.

From observing others, I saw the consequences of both sides. There were some individuals that were like machines in how they executed a well-thought out plan. In other cases I saw how badly things can go when you’re busy executing wrong tasks in the wrong order at the wrong times.

The biggest “a-ha” for me on execution was that it can actually become a vice; some people will actually deliberately seek out unimportant tasks to execute so that they can justify ignoring more important and more difficult tasks. It’s something I knew within me but to see it manifest within the lives of others really drove it home.

My goal is to make sure that I strive to be habitual is Organization and Prioritization which will in turn ensure that I am Executing the right tasks in the right order at the right times. I truly encourage you to do the same.

This Hiatus is now over – the journey back to regular postings begin; however, I will be sure to check in on the blueprint more often.

I truly hope that this article helps bring some kind of balance to your life – remember – you are not alone. There is always an answer; you only need the will and courage to seek it.

Here’s a list of some other wonderful things I was able to do while on Hiatus…

· Took my daughters to and from school/day care more often

· Spend more time with my daughters in general – park, ice cream at Rita’s, etc.

· Focus on creating an even better partnership with my wife

· Learned more about my wife’s incredible and growing Scentsy business

· Attend and support my wife at her first ever Scentsy Convention – that was awesome!

I am sure there were more but these are just a few… I’ll keep doing those more going forward because these are things that are truly important to me.

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The Mirror Is All That Matters

Outside is looking in; the world’s eyes are open wide and flaring

The universe sits silent while I feel a plethora of lenses staring

Glaring at me, in me and through me

Fear creates thoughts that their judgments might move me

But whether you accept me or not is inconsequential

Because I know that accepting myself is all that’s essential

So regardless of opinions, innuendos and chatter

You know as well as I that the mirror is all that matters

Do your thoughts bid me life or do they bid me death

Are you grateful for my existence or do you smite me with every breath

If the world ended tomorrow, what would history say

Would it show me regretful that I didn’t live life my way

But whether you appreciate me or not is extraneous

Because I know that if I appreciate me, my value is instantaneous

So be I villain or hero, man or mouse, clown or mad hatter

You know as well as I that the mirror is all that matters

While I do what I do, the world gazes on in awe

Looking for cracks and holes just to magnify my flaws

Every action evaluated and every word dissected

Until hopelessness and cynicism soon is what’s perfected

But whether you approve of me or not is superfluous at best

So long as I approve of what I do and my values sit on my crest

I serve with love until I expire, principles as my backers

You know as well as I that the mirror is all that matters

 
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The Natural Law of Gratitude

One of my mentors has always taught me that the more grateful we are for what we have, the more we receive to be grateful for. This is the natural law of gratitude at work. In my experience I have found that this is absolutely the case.

Of course as with all principles, consequences work both ways – so that the more we take for granted what we have, the more we lose. Again, this is the natural law of gratitude at work.

In my own life, I have been expressing tremendous gratitude because I am witnessing my dream manifest before my eyes every day. And, the more I give thanks, the more I receive to be thankful for. It has gotten to the point where I expect nothing less than to receive what I ask the universe to return to me. I ask, make choices that inspire me to my goal and then I work at it so naturally I expect my desires to come to fruition – and they have.

It is truly an incredible feeling – I am in awe almost on a daily basis when I see what can happen just from being truly grateful for what I have.

I am sharing this experience with you because I believe and I have seen that we aren’t always as grateful as we should be for what we have. In fact, more people take more for granted than they even realize – usually until it’s too late. It is only when severe loss has occurred that most of us even realize what we’ve been doing to ourselves – to our dreams – if we ever realize at all.

In a sense, when we do not show gratitude for what we have, we are in effect sabotaging our future. The principle – the natural law cannot be refuted – it exists and operates in our lives whether we like it or not, believe it or not or are aware of it or not. It’s not a matter of opinion or luck. It simply is.

Let me put it this way…

The law of gratitude is no different than the law of gravity in its completeness and unbiased function. If I step off the roof of a 50 story building, there is no question that I will suffer the consequences of that choice because of gravity. I cannot suddenly change my mind between the 6^th and 5^th floors and say I no longer want this consequence. Once I step off that roof, it is no longer up to me – the law of gravity applies and will continue to apply until my fall is broken by the ground or an angel catches me.

Why is showing gratitude so important?

To the degree that you show gratitude, the universe will continue to return the same to you in kind by granting you your true desires. The thing is that if you don’t truly believe in its power, you won’t truly show gratitude – you might fake it and then wonder why you aren’t receiving more from the universe.

You cannot fake gratitude and expect to receive true desires; in fact, if you fake gratitude, the universe will return to you fake desires or that which you do not desire. Principles are unbiased; your true frequency determines what you receive. A genuine gratitude frequency going out into the universe brings back more genuine desires that you can show more genuine gratitude for.

The reason it is so important to show gratitude is because you lose the things you take for granted.

Think about it in terms of your relationships. What happens if you continuously take your loved ones for granted? More often than not, they either eventually leave you or the relationship operates in dysfunction from lack of trust, honesty and resentment.

How about when you take your job for granted? Ever notice how you seem to go nowhere – you do not grow and you aren’t chosen for special projects. In extreme cases you might even lose your job. Certainly, there are other reasons why you might lose a job that are beyond your control; however, I can guarantee you that those who truly appreciated that job find another one much more quickly than those who did not. Furthermore, those who truly appreciated it for the real purpose it served usually find another job they like even more, much more quickly.

Think about it for a minute… really ponder it from your own experiences and see if you don’t draw the same conclusions.

When was the last time you showed absolutely no gratitude for what you have and received much more of your true desires to be grateful for? That’s right – never!

How to live the law of gratitude

Like all things you endeavor to become habits, you have to practice. I suggest that if you are not used to doing this with keen awareness, start small. Begin by giving thanks for every small desire that manifests in your life. Practice to do it daily and continue to give thanks over and over again for the people and things you have in your life.

Here’s the not so easy part – you must also give thanks for people who aren’t as thankful for you as well as the circumstances that may cause you grief. Why? It is because you can learn a lot from even those who do not have your best interest at heart. You can learn how not to be. It is truly a refreshing feeling when you compare the effects of being positive against being negative.

A person who might mean you ill will can truly reconvict you in your belief of doing the opposite. It is important to be thankful for these people – the lessons you learn are invaluable to your own growth.

The same holds true for circumstances that may be painful or unpleasant; look for the silver lining. Make the effort to see what the circumstance is trying to teach you and give thanks for what you’ve learned from it.

The law of gratitude requires that you give thanks for all that you have. This is why it is important to seek out the best in others and circumstances in your life. It is vital that you find a way to see more than meets the eye – if you are looking for the shiny object in others and situations, chances are you will find it when others could not.

Here’s a quick start guideline to help you practice. These are 7 things to show gratitude for on a daily basis.

1.    Your life

2.    The lives of family, friends and colleagues

3.    Your true gifts and talents

4.    The gifts and talents of others

5.    Opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others

6.    A better tomorrow

7.    Authentic leaders

Almost anything that you can think of in your life that you show gratitude for could fall under one of these 7 elements. If you can start by practicing to show gratitude for these 7 things and do so consistently for at least 30 days, there is a good chance that it will become a habit. Essentially, not only will your show of gratitude be genuine but also automatic – an unconscious competent response because of your keen awareness of its value and power.

The goal where gratitude is concerned is to be genuine – be real. Don’t bother showing gratitude for things you don’t truly appreciate; it will only backfire and you will not achieve the results you desire.

Also, don’t bother showing gratitude just to meet your ends of receiving more of your true desires to be grateful for. If you do this, again, it will only backfire because that is not true gratitude. Simply put, when you show gratitude, you have to mean it and show it without expectations.

Showing gratitude is about what you have and what you have received – it is not a means to an end; rather it is how we show true appreciation and bring true meaning to the ends we receive.

With that, thank you for reading – I truly appreciate you.

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How to Discover Your True Purpose

“It is not enough to simply be alive if your life is not worth living.”

There are many that would say that every life is worth living no matter what. I might agree only because you can learn something from everyone, even those who live for nothing. On the other hand, I do consider it a huge waste to simply be alive and yet have no purpose – no drive to contribute to the world in which you live.

In fact, I will go so far as to say that a life without purpose is no life at all – at least not one that is worth living. I think it is better to die than to live without purpose.

I hope it doesn’t shock you that I feel so strongly about this topic or that I would draw such a hard line. The truth is that I firmly believe that we – you have a purpose in life that serves your fellow man in ways you have not even imagined. We all have that potential within us and I personally want to awaken and tap into as much of it as possible.

You are unique in so many ways and have so much to offer the world; the sad thing is that most of us never seek to tap into it let alone even believe that it is there within us. There isn’t a shred of doubt in my mind that you have a purpose that only you can fulfill – you have only to believe it, seek it and pursue it fervently.

What is the point of your existence if not to serve those around you – to contribute to the world in which you live? What will have been the point of your life if you do not leave the world a better place than it was when you were born into it?

Think of your eulogy – I know – not pleasant to think about the end of your life but bear with me. At your funeral, what would you want others to say about you – about your life? Did you live a life of service? Were you always good to those you meet? Did you give back and show gratitude for your knowledge and success?

What would your family and friends say about you upon your departure from this plain? These can be hard questions to ponder; however, I suggest that it is vital that you do when you think about your true purpose.

Have you ever felt like you were stuck? Like you weren’t really sure where you’re going? Perhaps you even felt like you don’t even know why you do what you do or why you are where you are? Does what you do truly matter? Are you making a difference?

Without a true purpose, it is common for you to go through bouts of depression, chaos and ignorance. Your level of awareness ebbs and flows with change because you are not certain of where you fit into the grand scheme of the universe. You may even begin to justify and rationalize these feelings of emptiness and despair in an effort to stabilize your disposition.

These are things that a purposeless individual goes through one way or another; there may be other symptoms of this empty feeling but I think you get the gist.

Think for a moment about your own life…

Are you living a purpose-driven life? Have you found your true purpose and are you pursuing it with passion?

If you’ve already found your true purpose and are living it – CONGRATULATIONS! If you haven’t and you want to, the goal of this article is to provide a guideline that will help you do that.

Finding your purpose isn’t a hard thing – it’s finding the discipline to go through the steps and then courageously pursuing it zealously.

In order to discover your true purpose, you must tap into the whole person – the 4 quadrants of life. You must aim to satisfy the body, mind, heart and spirit. True purpose lies within the nexus of these 4. Most people end up only looking at body and mind – that’s just half of a person; they never consider the heart and spirit in the equation.

More often than not, stimulation of the heart and spirit are separated from the body and mind. True purpose requires that they all connect and meet at the nucleus. Certainly you might develop each quadrant in different places and through different resources; however, where your true purpose is concerned, the choreography among them must be perfectly harmonious.

If this sounds impossible to achieve, let me assure you that truly successful individuals have achieved this; it happens every day. Yes, the truth is it doesn’t happen often enough in my opinion – way too many of us don’t even bother to seek our true purpose. Even more sadly, many of us don’t even believe we each have a purpose.

Whether or not you believe you have a purpose does not negate the fact that you do. We are all born with gifts and talents that only we can utilize to create and distribute value to others – we have only to choose it.

Think of it this way…

If you believe in principles then you understand what is called the ripple effect. The ripple effect basically says that you have no idea just how far one act can go in affecting the lives of others and bringing about change. It is the continuation of one act begetting another and another with infinite possibilities and no end. It is in essence the never-ending mode of paying it forward.

With that in mind, as principles go, it works both ways. When you pursue your true purpose which allows you to create and distribute value in the lives of others – the ripple effect of what those you affect do for others is beyond the scope of your very mind. You only know that you started the ripple and that it is infinite. Sounds good BUT remember that the same holds true if you do not pursue your true purpose; the ripple effect still applies except that the value you would have created and distributed to others will be missing. Not only will that be missing but any profound and positive change that your value would have triggered in others will also go unfulfilled.

This is not to say that you’re responsible for ruining lives – we all make our own choices. It is just to say that when you choose not to pursue your purpose, it affects more than just you – it affects others.

Discovering your true purpose

To discover your true purpose, consider the body, mind heart and spirit and what truly fulfills them. Find out what makes each segment tick and then endeavor to utilize your true gifts and talents to add value.

Here’s a guideline of how you might go about doing this.

Body

Body refers not just to your body but to the body of the world around you. Since we live in a physical world, there are real physical needs that need to be met. Think of those deeply; what are the needs of your body – of the people around you – of the world?

It doesn’t mean that you have to solve the world’s greatest problems – it just means that you need to give this real thought.

Looking at body, consider the needs of others that you might be able to fulfill. This will help you to start to think in terms of what you are capable of doing to make a difference in the lives of others. As you think of needs that need to be met, also think of your physical capabilities and how they might help you fulfill these needs.

Mind

For the mind, consider carefully what you are good at. What are your natural gifts and talents? When it comes to discovering your true purpose, it is like discovering the real you. Search yourself and be honest about what you find.

Do not be discouraged if you find that you are good at things that seemingly have no value. Your gifts and talents are never valueless; there is always a way to utilize them to create and distribute value. If you can believe that then you can be honest with yourself about your findings.

Make a list of the things you’re really good at. If you wish, ask your family, friends or someone you respect what they think you’re good at. In fact, I often recommend a top 10 list written by a mentor or other respected person to go along with your resume. This is because your name rings a lot more bells a lot louder when someone else other than you sings your praises.

You don’t have to base your final answers on what others say; however, it can be really helpful to know how others see you. Perhaps they see something in you that you do not yet see in yourself.

The goal is to find out what you’re really good at doing and make a list.

Heart

The heart is one of the quadrants that most organizations and even people don’t tap into when it comes to what they do. It is often only utilized as an emotional source for showing love and gratitude to and for your loved ones.

The heart is so much more than that. What about passion?

In order to figure out your true purpose, you have to figure out what you are truly passionate about? What is it that makes you jump out of bed in the morning with uncontrollable enthusiasm? What gets your adrenaline pumping through your veins and set you on fire?

Passion and purpose are almost synonymous in that they are completely fulfilling. Whatever you do must fulfill you in order for you to do it to the best of your abilities. Look within and think about what you are really passionate about. If your physical needs like money were no object, what would you do with your time? How would you spend your days on this plain making a difference?

If you can figure out what gets your juices going every time – you will be able to figure out what you’re truly passionate about.

Spirit

The spirit is another quadrant that often goes neglected when it comes to what people do. Often times, the allure and greed for money, stature and power override the spirit. This type of thinking always leads to underhanded behavior, disempowerment of others and despair. When the spirit is neglected, there can be no win/win – someone always loses – in fact I think that in the absence of the spirit, everyone loses.

Spirit speaks to conscience. Where your true purpose is concerned, the spirit demands that you ask if what you are doing is righteous and does it make a positive difference in your life and the lives of others.

How does what you do affect you and the people you touch? If the answer to this question is anything but a positive one, I suggest that what you are doing is not your true purpose.

Without the spirit, the other 3 quadrants falter; it is the spirit that governs the other 3. Perhaps I should say should govern the other 3 because many times, people allow ego to govern.

Here’s what I mean as Dr. Stephen R. Covey puts it…

“When spirit governs body, mind and heart, you get a Gandhi; when ego governs body, mind and heart, you get a Hitler.”

The bottom line is that when you consider the spirit, think of how you can utilize your physical abilities to meet a physical need, apply your capabilities while doing something you are truly passionate about and that makes a significant, profound and positive difference in yours and the lives of others.

When you have achieved this you have discovered your true purpose. As I said, it rests at the nexus of the four quadrants with the spirit as the guiding light.

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How to Improve Your Listening Skills

“Listening is a gift; give it often.” – Chris Baran.

We spend probably about 80% of our waking lives doing 4 things – reading, writing, speaking or listening. Essentially, we are constantly communicating in some way shape or form. In my experience effective communication is the most important skill that you can develop as a human being. I have found that the quality of our communication reflects the quality of our lives.

Fundamentally, communication is the response you get and the results you achieve.

What is also interesting is that most people from the time they enter kindergarten have been trained on how to read, write and speak BUT not on how to listen. Most people are clueless as to what it means to really listen to another human being. We often hear but seldom do we listen.

How well do you think you listen? Do you have selective or conditional hearing or are you one of the rarities among us who actually listens to the person speaking to you?

True listening requires a certain level of awareness and commitment in order to be effective at it. While it is a gift that we can all give, it is in fact also a skill that we can all learn, develop and strengthen.

Highly effective individuals are very good listeners; they practice being good listeners consistently. This is because they understand that you learn the most about others and situations when you are silent.

The goal of this article is to provide a guideline that when applied will most certainly help you improve your listening skills.

One of my mentors puts it this way…

When you truly listen to someone, they walk away feeling better about themselves for having been around you. That is a powerful feeling – I know – I’ve been on both sides of the coin.

To improve your listening skills you must endeavor to improve in these 3 areas of your personal growth – these must become habits.

1.   Desire to be a good listener

No matter what you say or do or what anyone else says or does, you will not succeed as a good listener unless you truly want to be one. In order to be a good listener, you have to actively seek to improve your listening skills. It is important to be open not only to new ideas and techniques but to the coaching of a qualified individual.

No amount of seminars and workshops can help you become a better listener unless you do not desire to be one. It’s a very simply concept; if you truly want to be a good listener then you make choices and take action that lead you to becoming just that.

The true measure of a good listener will show up in the next 2 disciplines that you will need to practice in order to improve your listening skills. It’s one thing to say that you want to be a good listener and entirely another to actually do it.

We are conditioned to speak first before we listen; this is because as I said before, most of us have been trained for years on how to read, write and speak. Even as adults as we embark on our careers, how often have you ever been to a program or seminar that taught you how to listen?

Personally, it has only been through my own pursuit of personal growth and development that I have even been able to work on this skill. I have had to request certain programs or seminars where this is taught. The point is that most of us don’t have these types of experiences handed to us; it is not even deemed important or a priority in most organizations.

Everyone will tell you immediately when asked that listening is important; however, I assert that most have no clue what that really means. Listening is a skill that has to be developed and most of us have not been formally taught that before we can really listen to someone else, we have to truly desire it.

So, first desire to be a good listener and then make choices and take action that leads you in that direction.

2. Seek to truly understand

Understanding… such a vital part of being an effective listener yet most don’t know what it truly means. One of the most basic human needs is to feel understood. So many conflicts could be avoided if only more people sought to truly understand others and more people felt truly understood by others.

Have you ever seen a toddler throw a tantrum? Many psychologists and other intellectuals will tell you that most tantrums come from the frustration of not feeling understood. This is because toddlers don’t yet have the language skills to fully communicate exactly what they want. These instances almost always lead to tantrums even as parents attempt to discipline and figure out why their children act so “kooky” as my daughter would say – it does nothing to simmer the tantrum.

Adults can act out even worse when they don’t feel understood; often times they just shut down and you have a hard time penetrating that armor.

The bottom line here is that in order to be a good listener, you must seek to truly understand. Most people rush to be understood first and end up hitting a brick wall. You see, it is a natural thing for people to clam up when they don’t feel understood and also to be more open when they do.

Your awareness of this provides you with an advantage; be careful though – it is not meant to be manipulation. Knowing that it is important to first be understood, your goal in improving your listening skills is to seek understanding first.

By understanding, I don’t mean glazing over with empty responses like “I see and uh uh and ok.” I mean for you to really make the sincere effort to see things through the eyes of the other person. In essence, you must seek to embody their perception. When you believe that you have reached a true understanding of the other person’s plight, you must be able to restate it to him/her to his/her satisfaction.

True understanding requires that you seek the kind of comprehension that allows you to repeat back to the other person what they are trying to convey and do a better job of it.

That means that along with the desire to be a good listener, you have to be genuine in your pursuit to truly understand. Most people are usually only listening for their turn to talk. Even before they have had a chance to hear what the other person has to say, they have already decided what they are going to say. What happens in these instances is that not only do you miss what is truly being said but they also alienate and frustrate the other person.

Additionally, when no one is truly listening to each other, you often end up with 2 one-way conversations going nowhere very fast. This is why it is crucial that you seek to truly understand the other person in order to improve your listening skills.

3. Empathize

Without practicing the other 2 disciplines, it will be difficult for you to empathize with the other person. In order for you to show true empathy, you need to have a full understanding of the way the other person sees things and how it makes them feel.

Most people attempt to give cliché answers and fluff the other person off. What ends up happening though is the trust goes way down and the other person closes up. You can forget about getting your point across; you may as well attempt to pick up the rock of Gibraltar with your pinky.

True empathy is the ability to show that you’ve put yourself in the other person’s shoes. At the very least, it must show that you’ve tried and if you are genuine about it that will come through to the other person.

Even if you truly understood a person and still could not relate because of your experiences, it is more empathetic to allow that to come through because true empathy demands authenticity. Rather than pretend like you care or that you can relate, it is far better to let the person know that while you understand exactly what he/she is trying to say, you can’t imagine what he/she is going through. This is the best avenue if you have no frame of reference.

Often times when people have no frame of reference; instead of simply admitting that – they choose to give you high level advice from a low level of understanding. If you truly want to destroy trust and close a person off – try to fake empathy. It is one of the most insincere things you can do to a person. This most certainly turns people off – they won’t trust you.

True empathy demands that you remain genuine; good listeners are genuine listeners. There is no shortcut – no magic bullet – you have to be genuine.

If you can improve in these 3 areas – make them habits – I guarantee you that you will become a much more effective listener and achieve much better results in your endeavors and personal growth.

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The World’s Greatest Resource

If I were to ask you “What is the world’s greatest resource” what would your answer be?

I am sure such a question may seem quite broad not to mention subjective to most individuals. I mean certainly I would get many different answers if I were to take a poll and you would all be right from a subjective point of view.

Subjectivity aside though, I want to invite you to open your mind and consider another possibility. Consider a more matter of fact objective and principle-based answer to the question. In fact, I challenge you to consider that there is only one correct answer to this question. There is only one answer that truly makes perfect sense when considered in the grand scheme of the world in which we live.

The world’s greatest resource is YOU – people. Never in the history of the world has there been a more creative, innovative and powerful resource than people. I know, it sounds a bit hammy – but think about it a moment…

Where else can you find a more complete resource than in people?

One of the main reasons this might give you pause is that the most heinous crime ever to be committed against mankind is to disavow, deny, under-utilize and disregard the incredible capacity of people.  There have been many wonders in the world; however, the most overlooked and under-valued resource has been the greatest wonder of all time – that is people.

Is it still too hard to swallow? Ok, let’s take a closer look at why YOU – people are irrefutably the world’s greatest resource.

Why are people the world’s greatest resource?

People are the world’s greatest resource because you and me – we are the only ones on this planet that possess the capacity to tap into, improve upon and grow the 4 quadrants of life. These 4 quadrants are body, mind, heart and spirit. Sure, all living beings possess the 4 quadrants; however, while they exists and live on instinct alone – we possess the ultimate power of choice which gives us ultimate control over how we develop the 4 quadrants.

Furthermore, it is only through people that the other great wonders of the world can come into existence. Nothing moves the world whether forward or backward without people first making choices that cause these things to happen. It is only through the choice of people that greatness can be achieved at any level.

Are these just lofty words I am spewing for the sake of talking or is there irrefutable proof? I’ll let you decide.

Think on this a moment…

Has anything ever happened in your life that you did not first see in your own mind or that someone else did not direct? It may seem oversimplified; however, I think it makes the point perfectly. If your answer to this question is anything but a resounding NO – think again – and if it’s still anything but a resounding and emphatic NO – get your head checked.

Ok, let’s go a little further for the skeptics…

Think of some of the world’s most incredible accomplishments, inventions, innovations or champions and ask yourself, if people are not the greatest resource the world has ever seen, what is?

How about some historical facts we can all agree on to drive home the point?

There was a time that people thought that the earth was the center of the universe until Aristarchus of Samos dared to suggest differently. Instead he believed that the earth revolved around the sun. Later in the 16^th century, Nicolas Copernicus presented mathematical theories that basically proved this fact and was later confirmed in the following century by Galileo.

To suggest these theories at the time was considered heresy; in fact, Galileo’s body was placed at the foot of the church just so as people exited they could step on it to show their disdain for such heretics. Today of course we know that the earth does in fact revolve around the sun and it is not the center of the universe.

How about the theory that the earth is flat? This was once the consensus among scholars until, about 2500 years ago, the Greek and Babylonian mariners suggested that the earth is in fact spherical because of the way ships used to disappear by sinking below the horizon as they sailed. Later, the Greek mathematician Eratosthenes used observations of the sun’s angle at noon to calculate the diameter of the earth – a computation that ONLY would have made sense if he knew the earth to be round.

Let’s bring it even closer to home or more importantly to the 20^th century. How about the creation of the world’s most incredible communication and connector – the Internet? It was first launched at CERN laboratories in Switzerland by a group of world class scientists from all over the world who simply needed a tool to stay in touch and keep each other updated on their work in a more efficient manner.

Now, they could have simply used e-mail or pick up the phone but NO – they opted for something much greater – much more efficient and effective – the Internet. This is now the foremost authority on finding any types of information you need and for connecting every single person in the world to each other if they so choose.

What else but the world’s greatest resource could dream up, create and implement these ideas? All of these mentioned here and any other great wonders that you can think of right now are all precipitated by individuals who made a choice to make a difference. People like you and me are the drivers of these great discoveries and change. They all involved all 4 quadrants of life, body, mind, heart and spirit.

I know that there are still some that might say, these examples are too easy and well not the norm. These only include a handful of some of the smartest individuals in the world’s history so clearly, not all people are a part of the world’s greatest resource.

Great… how about we tackle this scenario?

I challenge you to consider that the power to be the world’s greatest resource exists in each and every one of us. We have only to unleash it by exercising our ultimate power of choice.

Why do I say this? I say this because only the world’s greatest resource possesses the power to evolve and shift paradigms.  People have been able to do this successfully throughout history – often at great cost but nonetheless, we are able to do it repeatedly.

Here’s what I mean…

There was a time when man was primarily a hunter and gatherer of food and resources to sustain life. He would go out each and every day to hunt and gather food – this was known as the Hunter’s Age. This went on for a very long time and then came the farmer.

The farmer sought to grow his food instead of hunting every day; however, as the hunter watched the farmer he saw no value in his work ethic. The farmer merely tended to his crop by watering and fertilizing the ground where he had planted the seeds of sustenance. While the hunter continued to go out every day and hunt and gather his food.

The farmer was patient and by the end of the harvest season, his crop had produced 50 times what the hunter was able to produce by going out every day. The farmer had essentially created a way to provide 50 times of what a hunter could gather with 50 times less effort not to mention a lot less danger. Eventually, this ushered in a new paradigm known as the Agricultural Age.

This period also went on for a time but it didn’t stop there. At some point, the ingenious mind of people began to turn yet again to progression and innovation. Enter the advent of machines and assembly lines. With the capacity to build machines that could do the work of 50 men, people were now able to produce 50 times what the farmer could in the same period of time. In fact, this new paradigm, known as the Industrial Age, was so successful that it was brought to the farms and these farms, now dubbed Industrial Farms, were able to produce 50 times more than traditional farms.

What do you think… does it stop there?

Of course not; there is still some semblance of the Industrial Age in the 21^st century; however, I guarantee you that it will not last another generation. As one of my favorite leaders and author puts it, we are now embarking on the Knowledge Worker Age. This is the age where people are more in tuned with their complete self – the body, mind, heart and spirit. It is the age of creating and distributing value by tapping into your true gifts and talents as opposed to mindlessly following a regime in which you have no belief or derive satisfaction.

We can see many knowledge workers around us already – this new paradigm has already taken root and will only continue to spread and grow like a wild fire on gasoline steroids.

What else but the world’s greatest resource can usher in such incredible paradigm shifts? Only YOU – only people…  

The Unfortunate Truth

The unfortunate truth is that most of us are not aware of the incredible untapped human potential that exists within us. Like anything else, it only gets stronger if we are feeding and nurturing it.

While people are the world’s greatest resource, it often falls short in its potential because the majority of us are completely oblivious to its infinite and ever evolving power. Too many of us do not accept, appreciate or even approve of its possibilities.

The world’s greatest resource, like any other resource, takes consistent effort to improve and grow. Left alone it will of course remain dormant and unused and therefore will not improve in any facet.

Too many of us are like sheep mindlessly grazing in the pasture built to hold and control our every move and thus creating the illusion that we have no choice. Too often we choose to remain ignorant in an effort to maintain our meager existence for fear of losing it all.

If you still harbor any skepticism at all about what the world’s greatest resource is, you may want to perform an honest examination how you truly perceive yourself. Is it in the best of lights or do you place unnecessary and self-defeating limitations on yourself?

Forget all the clichés and canned speeches of motivation and inspiration. Think of this as a personal challenge. Are you truly everything you can possibly be? Do you believe that you have an inexhaustible pool of possibilities available for you to tap into? Do you have or are you on the path to achieving all that you truly desire? Are you where you truly want to be?

I dare you to challenge yourself with these questions. Whether your answer is yes, no or a combination – I guarantee you’ll immediately see things differently if you are honest with yourself. You will quickly awaken parts of you that you weren’t even aware existed. Go ahead – try it.

The world’s greatest resource cannot be the sheep of us but instead must be the shepherd for only the shepherds can usher in new ages and shift paradigms.

How to unleash the world’s greatest resource in you

For starters, I suggest that you read my article, How to Develop and Cultivate Wisdom as it provides an in depth walkthrough of the following actions.

To unleash the world’s greatest resource in you – you must ask yourself the following 4 questions, answer them honestly and then choose to take action to either improve or include them in your life and personal growth.

The following 4 questions pertain to stimulating, improving, growing and strengthening the body, mind, heart and spirit. These 4 quadrants of life embody and direct the world’s greatest resource. Each requires a two-fold process for maximum effect.

1.   Are you feeding the body?

Feeding the body is first about the things you are doing to fulfill your physical needs. Since we live in a physical world, there are real needs that need to be met in order to function properly. If you are not feeding your physical needs – the body – chances are you experience frustration and perhaps depression. It is vital that you are aware of and endeavor to meet all your physical needs thus increasing your capacity to function at an optimal level.

The second part of this equation is about what you are doing to service the physical needs of others. It’s like being on a plane with a child. If the plane is going down, the best course of action is to first put on your oxygen mask and then taking care of the child’s. Once you have met your physical needs, to tap into the world’s greatest resource, you must take action to utilize your true gifts and talents to service the physical needs of others.

2. Are you feeding the mind?

Feeding the mind is first about the things you are doing to stimulate and challenge your brain. It’s about tapping into your creativity and tenacity in making a significant difference in the world and people around you. To unleash the world’s greatest resource, you must be willing to embrace change, acknowledge problems and create solutions. You must believe in the infinite pool of possibilities and place no limitations on what your mind can accomplish. This involves an insatiable appetite and an unquenchable thirst for learning, growing and discovering the new.

The second part to this is of course about the things you are doing to challenge the minds of others. It’s about the steps you take to make sure that you are also challenging others to greatness – to utilize their own creativity and tenacity. As you believe in your own potential and capacity for change and significance, so must you believe in the potential of others. This is feeding the mind.

3. Are you feeding the heart?

Feeding the heart is about the level of passion you feel for what you do. It’s about the deep and abiding fulfillment it brings you to utilize your true gifts and talents to create and distribute value in your life and in the lives of others. How passionate are you about what you do? Do you truly believe that what you do is valuable and are you fulfilled by it? Answering yes to these questions is crucial in feeding the heart.

Secondly, what are you doing to arouse the same level of passion you feel for what you do in others for what they do? To unleash the world’s greatest resource in you – you must endeavor to release it in others. You must encourage others to find their passion and pursue it fervently in order to unleash true greatness.

4. Are you feeding the spirit?

Feeding the spirit is the most crucial of the 4 because it governs the other three. This is about your moral values. Many people distort the authority between formal and moral. Formal authority is man-made and governed by the laws of man which are not always moral. Moral authority is based on universal principles – natural laws. Moral authority is what must direct the spirit in order to properly feed it.

Do you feel good about what you do? Are you doing the right things to achieve the ends you seek? Does your work have transparency and integrity in it? Is what you do to the benefit of you as well as others? Are people better off after what you do has touched them? The answer to these questions must all be yes otherwise, while you may be feeding the spirit, I guarantee you that it is not with the right things.

Like the other 3 questions, you must also endeavor to help others find their moral compass. It is important that you encourage others to find the courage to do the right things even when it means not doing things right. The world’s greatest resource demands more of us than to simply follow orders – it demands that we follow and adhere to principles – natural laws. This is how you feed the spirit.

I know I may have left the title of this article way behind by now but my hope is that you truly get the point. Too often we get wrapped up in things and circumstances and forget people. What’s worse, sometimes we treat people like things instead of like human beings. If you want to see a world where all things are possible, begin by believing that you can create it. After that, make sure that you treat people as a whole by respecting, accepting and embracing the 4 quadrants of them – body, mind, heart and spirit.

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The 5 W’s of Manifestation

Often times, we do not understand how we ended up where we are and with the things and situations we have, especially when we aren’t where we want to be or have what we truly desire. Although it is a universal truth that we have what we have and are where we are because of the choices we’ve made – still – it can easily escape us as to how it all happened.

Have you ever asked yourself, how did I get here? Or, what have I done to deserve this?

You should be nodding right now because I’m willing to bet that we all have at one point or another. Manifestation is a key element of personal growth and development as well as in your overall success. It goes to the heart of how you arrive where you are and with what you have. Truly successful individuals are masters at applying manifestation techniques to their daily life; it is simply a part of their DNA and they practice it relentlessly. It may even get to the point where it takes no effort at all, especially in the areas of life where they are most excel.

The goal of this article is to raise your awareness to the incredible powers of manifestation and how to effectively apply it to your life. It will help you understand the 5 key elements of manifestation – the ones that all successful individuals understand and use regularly to improve on their personal growth and success.

First and foremost, let’s understand what manifestation is.

Manifestation is the act of materializing and/or expressing that which you envision, plan for, prepare for and expect to happen. The power of manifestation in your life is inextricably linked to the way you see yourself and the world around you. It goes to the core of the universal principle – the natural law of “believing is seeing.” To the degree that you believe in something, plan for it, prepare for it and expect it to happen, it will manifest in your life in alignment with your level of faith. You are the director of all things that manifest in your life. Even for the occurrences you face that you do not cause to happen to you – you still have the power to choose how you respond to them thus manifesting what you desire.

In order to harness the power of manifestation in your life, it is imperative that you truly understand the 5 W’s of manifestation. These elements help to put you in the right mindset when attempting to materialize your true desires.

Who

Who is the first part of the manifestation you must understand completely in order to apply it successfully to your personal growth. Sometimes, who can refer to just one and in other cases multiple people. No matter what the situation though, who must always include you. Let’s break this down a bit further for clarity.

Who, first refers to the person totally responsible for materializing your desires – that’s always YOU. When it comes to manifestation, it is vital to understand that the first who is always you. You are 100% responsible for any desire you want to see appear in your life – you are the director of your fate. No matter what you might believe, the moment you put your destiny – your path – in someone else’s hands, it is no longer yours.

Once you understand and accept that you are the master of your fate and that only your choices can truly create your future, it will become easier for you to manifest your true and inner-most desires. All manifestations in your life are directly related to who you are and the choices that you make. It makes no difference whether you believe it or not – it is a natural law – a universal principle and thus it merely exists and acts in our lives. Those who are keenly aware of this principle are the ones who benefit most from its application.

Additionally, who can also refer to anyone you might deem necessary to help you manifest your desires. Simply put, once you accept your responsibility in the equation of manifestation, you will also quickly realize that it is your responsibility to identify those who can help you achieve your goals. This second set of “who” may be one or many people and can also change along the way; it depends on where you are in your journey.

The key take-away here is that you understand that when you have your goal in mind, it is crucial to your success that you are able to identify others whom are important and/or necessary in achieving your goal otherwise, it will be a difficult road.

What

The second part of the manifestation equation is the “what.” What are you trying to achieve – what is your goal? What refers to the result you envision and the more crystallized this is in your mind, the more likely you will succeed at manifesting it. It is important that you understand that in order to materialize what you want, you must first see it clearly in your mind and believe it is going to happen. If you truly believe it is going to happen then your plans and preparationwill follow suit in a much more focused manner.

When it comes to what you truly desire, it cannot be a sketchy picture otherwise you will get sketchy results. It must be as clear as day – you have to see it through your mind’s eye before the first step is even taken towards your goal. This is not to say that your vision cannot change along the way; however, you have to be crystal clear about your ultimate goal.

Think of it this way…

Have you ever pictured yourself on the perfect vacation? You might see the beach; you lying on the beach – you may even smell the ocean; feel the ocean breeze on your face and the water running through your toes. That’s the type of visualization I am talking about. Successful manifestation demands that you see the end you seek as clear as day in your mind before you lift a finger to act.

Why

This third element is overlooked more often than you think and it is the main reason people end up questioning their lot in life. They didn’t fully understand if at all, why they wanted something. Your “why” is the glue to the whole operation of manifestation because if you don’t know why you want something, you cannot fully appreciate your reward.

The worst part of that is that, if you can’t appreciate what you receive, you will eventually take it for granted. The law of gratitude has 2 faces; it states that when we are grateful for what we have we get more to be grateful for. On the flip side, it says what we take for granted, we lose. Again, this is a natural law – universal principle that merely exists and operates in our lives whether we are aware of it or not.

The key point here is that it is extremely important that you understand completely why you want what you want. Your “why” fuels your desire to act and your perseverance in the face of challenges. It gives you the reason to push through any obstacle. Your threshold will only be as strong as your “why.” If you have a deeply rooted reason for your desire – it is more likely that you will be successful in achieving your goal. In order to successfully manifest your desires in your life, you must hone in on why you want what you want.

It is important to be certain that you want something for the right reason; right reason being that you are somehow creating and delivering value to or for others. Any desire fueled by greed, the quest for power or domination over any other will surely end in disaster sooner or later. What I am presenting here are 2 ideals in the extreme but I am sure you get the picture. Just make sure that your reasons for wanting what you want benefit others while at the same time doing no harm to others.

The natural law of harvesting says that you reap more than what you sow – not just as much as you sow – but more.

The simple truth is that if you don’t understand why you want something, you will have difficulty understanding what you receive and that’s just a waste. When you do not understand why you want something the results you achieve will be just as elusive and confusing.

Where

The fourth part of the manifestation equation is the “where.” Whether in degree, accolades or physical destination, it will be virtually impossible to achieve your goal if you have no clue where you are going. Before you begin any journey, it is important – necessary that you have the correct roadmap.

This is why before the first nail is driven or the first stake pushed into the ground for a new house, the foreman and his crew must consult the blueprint. The blueprint tells you where things go. It is not an accident that a house has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms – it is a result of a deliberate plan – a roadmap.

To know where you are going is imperative; it will help you to make more effective and impactful choices because they will be more focused to the task. Can imagine trying to score touchdowns on a basketball court? It just wouldn’t work – it’s not the right field. A pilot does not get to Denver by plotting a course to Chicago. You simply must know where you are going otherwise you will end up asking questions like, “How did I get here?” and even worse, “Where am I?”

The other vitally important factor of knowing where you are going is that it will help to minimize straying. It is already an accepted theory that we drift off for about 20 seconds every 60 seconds; for 20 seconds of every minute the mind takes a mini-vacation. That’s when we’re paying attention and know where we are going.

Can you imagine what will happen if you are clueless about your destination? You will end up manifesting all sorts of things you will question later. Besides, if you do not know where you are going, it will be much easier for others to lead you astray – this is how people end up holding the bag someone else put in their hands and in some cases they pay a steep price.

Knowing where you are going will most definitely keep you focused and on target.

When

The fifth W of manifestation is When. This is probably the most ignored element of goal-setting. Most people do not date their goals; however, truly successful people always do. It’s an automatic piece in setting and planning goals. Your “when” is essential to your manifestation success; it tells you the time and date that your desires will show up in your life.

Have you ever heard someone say, “Sure I am going to clean out the garage”? How often does it really happen? Right – never.

The truth is that one of the main reasons goals aren’t met is because they have no date – no end time. There is no clear and set time that they are expected to happen. Quite frankly, a goal without a date is merely fantasy – it’s not real. Putting a date on your goals makes them real – it gives you a sense of urgency to act. If you don’t have a clue when you want to get where you want to go, you may never get there and even if you do – you will most likely be too late.

It’s like the same New Year’s resolutions that get made year after year and almost none actually manifest for most people. The people who see their New Year’s resolutions come to fruition are in fact goal setters. They understand and utilize the 5 W’s of manifestation otherwise; they would end up like most people who make these meaningless commitments every year – nowhere. It may sound harsh but it’s true. What is the point of setting a goal if you do not have a date in mind of when you want to achieve it?

That’s no different than saying over and over again “I’d love to go to Paris.” So what? If no one, especially you, have no clue when you want to go to Paris, you’ll never get there. And, if you do happen to end up in Paris through the choices of others and by shear miraculous luck, I guarantee you that you will be completely unprepared for the experience and your expectations will be dashed. What’s more, you’ll probably blame everyone and everything else for the rotten time you had.

The key take-away here is that successful manifestation requires that you know exactly when you want something to appear in your life; otherwise the universe will not know when to deliver.

If you can practice implementing the 5 W’s into your life, it is virtually guaranteed that you will achieve much better results and more consistently achieve the results you desire.

Happy manifesting!

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Spirituality and Personal Growth

I think it is obvious, and that you would agree that our success in our personal growth is driven by the choices that we make. We are where we are and have what we have because of the path we’ve chosen to take. There really is no mystery to the lot you receive in life. To understand your station in life, you only need examine your choices; it’s that simple. 

If your personal growth is your responsibility and you are the one that has to make a choice to improve it, how then does spirituality play a role in this? 

First, I think it is important that we understand what spirituality really means. There are different schools of thought on this so I want to make sure we are on the same page as to what I am talking about before we proceed.

 

What is spirituality?

First of all, let’s debunk one of the most popular beliefs. Spirituality has nothing to do with religion, mysticism or any order that exercises or imposes control over your thoughts and actions. Please know that this is not a knock against any religion; it is just a clarification so that we are not confusing the two elements. They are in fact separate.

Spirituality encompasses 2 forms; Inner Spirituality and Outer Spirituality. 

Inner Spirituality is about your level of belief in your core values before they have manifested physically in your life. It is strengthened by how deeply you are connected to the formless, soundless and creative part of you. The more connected you are to that part of you that cultivates genuine hope for the future and faith in your endeavors; the part of you that sees the desired results you want to achieve as a foregone conclusion – the stronger your spiritual self will be. 

Inner Spirituality is about believing in yourself and your abilities to achieve the results you desire before you have taken the first step towards accomplishing them. 

The pinnacle of inner spirituality is the belief in infinite possibilities; that you can achieve anything you desire so long as you set your mind to it. If you can dream it then you can be it. 

Surely, there are different methods that you might use to connect with that part of you. For instance, some people meditate in silence while others go to church or congregate with like-minded individuals to exchange ideas in an effort to invoke that spirit within them. 

I tend to go for reading, writing and just sitting in deep thought in order to move, stir and strengthen my spirit. 

Outer Spirituality is about the acceptance that all things are first spiritual before they are physical. It simply means that you accept, understand and believe that before anything is manifested on the physical plane, it must first be created on the spiritual plane. This is not “hocus pocus and mombo jumbo”, it is a universal principle – a natural law.

 

Think of it this way… 

Where did the internet come from? Did it always exist? Of course not; someone or a group of people first created the idea of it in their minds (spiritual) and then subsequently took action to manifest what he/they had thought up (physical). This isn’t rocket science; it’s just proper logic and natural law at work. 

The pinnacle of outer spirituality is the belief in infinite possibilities; that anything is in fact possible so long as a person and/or group truly believe in it and set minds to achieving it. It is about knowing that the results of the future lies in the choices we make in the present and that all change you see around you was first spiritual before physical. 

First you dream it and then you make it happen. You certainly can’t touch the spirit in a tangible form; however, you can certainly feel it when it touches you. It’s like getting a really great idea (light bulb goes on) all of a sudden popping into your head. Sometimes you don’t even know how or where it came from. 

The truth is that’s your spiritual self connecting with you. For those individuals who consistently and deliberately seek to connect with the spiritual side of themselves and the world, they experience many more of those “Ah-ha” moments than those who do not. 

Overall, spirituality is about a deep and abiding belief in an inexhaustible pool of possibilities where all ideas are born and creativity enlivened.

 

How does spirituality affect personal growth?

Since success in your personal growth rests with the choices that you make, it stands to reason that your spirituality must be aligned with the results you desire. 

Furthermore, the weaker your spiritual self, the more likely you are to be unsuccessful in achieving your goals. Conversely, the stronger your spiritual self, the more likely you are to be successful in achieving your goals. 

In order to help you understand the connection between your spirituality and your personal growth, let’s examine the 5 W’s of manifestation – Who, What, Why, Where and When.

Who – refers to knowing who you are and believing in yourself wholeheartedly. Essentially, it is about having complete faith in the person you are and believe you will become the person you truly endeavor to be. In other words, you’ve taken an honest look at yourself and you acknowledge the awesome person you are, accept your limitations and embrace the consistent pursuit of change to becoming the person you desire. Before you become who you were meant to be, you must first believe you already are. 

What – refers to your purpose; the gift that you have within you to give to the world. Do you know what that is? Not only must you know what that is, you must also make choices to bring it into fruition. In order to manifest what you want on the physical plane, you must first see the end – envision the results as if already achieved and completely believe it. All that should be left is for you to mobilize and take action to see your vision (spiritual) come to life (physical). 

Why – it is very important – crucial to know and understand why you want something. This fuels your desire and directs your intent. Your “why” must be deliberate and it must course through your entire being with passion and fervor. Your “why” while intangible (spiritual) is your inspiration which plants the seed of hope and gives power to action. If you are deeply connected to the “why” of your “what”, the results you achieve will reflect that depth. 

Where – this is about the destination and station you desire to reach. It is about having a crystal clear picture in your mind of exactly where you want to be either in degree of accomplishment or a physical place. It is no different than imagining your perfect vacation and then choosing to manifest it by buying the plane ticket and getting on the plane. Knowing where you want to go relaxes your mind and adds clarity to your blueprint. 

When – refers to dating all desires and goals; it is the act of calling into existence the time by which you will achieve your desired end. This is referred to as beginning with the end in mind. This way you know the date by when you will be who you desire to be, have what you desire, fulfilled by the reasons (your why) and be where you desire to be. 

All of these 5 elements are first realized in the spiritual realm – in connection with the spiritual self. Only through the spiritual plane can you manifest anything on the physical plane. Even if you are unaware of the situations and beliefs you create on the spiritual plane, they will most certainly still manifest on the physical one. 

Many people often wonder why they are poor when all they ever do is think about having money. If you examine this dilemma closely though, you will discover that we do not necessarily receive what we think about, rather, we only receive what we believe. In other words, no matter how hard you think about money, you will still have none if you do not believe that you will actually receive it. If you do not truly believe that you will receive it, then you will not expect it and therefore it will not manifest on the physical plane.

What will most certainly manifest on the physical plane are your true beliefs because these are what you will expect to happen. This means that even though you might think about receiving money, you truly believe that you will not, therefore that is what you expect and that is why you receive nothing. The bottom line is that no matter what you think about, you will only receive that which you plan, prepare and expect to receive. 

In order to truly affect your personal growth in a positive way, you must truly believe in and be truly positive about who you are and what you desire to achieve. Whether you believe you can or cannot achieve success in your personal growth, you are absolutely right. If your connection with your spiritual self is weak then your belief will be weak; if strong, then your belief will be strong.

 

How to strengthen your connection with your spiritual self

To strengthen your connection with your spiritual self, you must first choose to abandon your ignorance in pursuit of increasing your awareness. You must believe that the mistakes of your past can become valuable lessons if you choose to learn from them. You must understand and accept that the choices you make in the present will determine the results you achieve in the future. 

To simplify your connection process, consider practicing one of or a combination of the following. 

Participate in activities that quiet your thoughts – these types of activities will help you to gain clarity. When done on a consistent basis you might begin to find that you lose a sense of your physical surroundings and escape for a time to a formless world where you see yourself in its most perfect state – the spiritual state. 

Do things that enrich the soul – for me, this is reading and writing. When you do things that enrich the soul, it touches a part of you that is only seen in the world when you create something from that enrichment. It is receiving the fulfillment of your creation before you have manifested it physically. For instance, as I write this article I am thinking of the one person (YOU) whom might benefit from it by achieving breakthrough success in his/her personal growth. The thought alone fulfills me.

Think deeply and do it often – it is so important that you think deeply if you desire to connect more closely with your spiritual self. Thinking deeply takes you through a world of thoughts and ideas; it sparks creativity. It breaches the surface levels of shallow thinking and delves into the core of the human being. It also makes you more open to possibilities and change; you become much more embracing of differences. 

Breathe deeply – this probably goes without saying; however, I will say it anyway. Breathing deeply is like giving you a cleansing. It helps you to distress and scrape away the remains of the day. Often times, we do not realize the tremendous toll the occurrences in a day can take on us. When you breathe deeply, it’s a way of renewing the spiritual self so that you can create. 

If you can make one or all of these a habit, you will find that your level of creativity will increase. Your awareness of who you are will improve consistently and your belief in yourself and your desires will be strengthened. 

As I have always said, you must learn to do what is true for you and live with the consequences. The clamor of the world can often clutter our thoughts and send our thoughts into chaos; however, the more we seek to find the sweet music within the clamor, the quieter it becomes.

 

Think of it this way… 

You decide to buy a new car. You visit the dealer and you settle on a brand new Hyundai Sonata. Before you purchased that Hyundai, you may have never even noticed just how many of them are on the road; however, from the moment you pull off the lot, you begin to notice every single one that goes by. You see, if you are looking for it and you expect to see it, you will. Seek the sweet music of the world and the noise will become insignificant.

 

All things are first spiritual

Nothing can manifest on the physical place first because unless someone believed it was a possibility, it could not have been created. All things then are first spiritual; they first exist in an intangible form before a tangible form. First you believe it and then you see it. It is not the other way around which is said and believed to be the case by so many. To see it is not to believe it; to believe it is to see it. 

Formless and soundless – these are beliefs, thoughts and ideas – an inexhaustible pool of possibilities which continuously overflows.

The success you achieve in your personal growth is inextricably linked to your relationship with your spiritual self. All your beliefs and desires are born on the spiritual plane and whatever you manifest there is what you will manifest on the physical plane.

 

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The Dichotomy of Competition

Competition is probably familiar to most of us in some form or another. Most of us have probably been competing for most of our lives at something or with someone. Think about it, what are competing in or for right now? I am sure you will be able to think of one or more scenarios.

When it comes to competition, my experience is that it falls in one of two paradigms – healthy or unhealthy.

Healthy competition incites growth and creativity; it inspires and propels one or a team to excel. Unhealthy competition on the other hand breeds resentment, envy and covetousness. It causes dissention in the ranks and among peers; while it may cause one to excel, it can cause a team to implode. 

The goal of this article is to raise your awareness and understanding of the two paradigms regarding competition so that you can make better choices in this dichotomy.

 

Unhealthy Competition

Unhealthy competition is where resentment and deception thrive. This occurs when one group of people are pitted against another. While there is nothing wrong with competing against one another per se, the set up has to be correct in order to avoid an unhealthy situation.

In unhealthy competition, the setup is not done properly. Often times the individuals involved, whether consciously or unconsciously, equate their value to how well they perform against someone else. Their sense of worth is derived from besting the next man. 

Unhealthy competition basically says to the victor that you are better than every one else involved and that they are less than you. Dejection and depression are some of the emotions that can occur when you are not the victor in unhealthy competition. For the victor, it may seem like a good thing; however, this individual usually ends up with a false sense of security and entitlement. It won’t be long before he/she is defeated in the same manner causing him/her to now feel dejected and/or depressed.

In unhealthy competition, there is no real goal except to beat the other guy. This of course is empty because after you’ve beaten the other guy, there is no real fulfillment to bring you residual satisfaction. If your only purpose is to win at all cost, your choices will soon be corroded by your desire to simply win and that negates the possibility of healthy competition.

Unhealthy competition is all about instant gratification – it’s a win/lose approach. Someone always wins while others lose because there are no lasting rewards beyond the physical prize.

 

If this position seems extreme to you, think of it this way… 

Have you ever been a part of a competition where some participants simply resign themselves to second best because the same person/people always win? You’ll hear things like “Why bother playing, so and so is going to win anyway?” 

The reason for this posture and attitude is because unhealthy competition does not create a true sense of hope for all parties involved. It doesn’t set everyone up to win – rather, it sets up a situation where there will always be winners and losers.

Don’t get me wrong – I know that someone almost always has to lose; however, losing is up to you and the mindset you choose to have. Individuals with a winner’s mindset understand that there is a win in everything, even the failures. If you can learn something from the things that go wrong, you will never lose – you will only grow. 

The bottom line is that true competition is not about winning and losing, it is about creating hope and inspiration that pushes others to excel in an effort to maximize their potential.

 

Healthy Competition

Healthy competition is where hope and inspiration thrive. This occurs when we push each other to succeed and grow – it occurs when we push ourselves to excel in pursuit of infinite possibilities. 

In healthy competition, the setup is a win/win approach. The goal is to inspire you to lift yourself to greater heights. Instead of having the attitude of you against them, the attitude is more you against the bar or you against the goal. The goal may be one that you accept from someone or of your own making. 

When you compete in this manner, your purpose is not simply to defeat the other guy but rather to achieve your goal. Even if the game involves others; you do not concern yourself with what they are doing and how they are playing, you simply pursue the goal set before you. In this vein, your sense of worth will not be based on your ability to best the other guy, it will come from within – from the things you value most. 

When you pursue your goals, residual satisfaction is automatic because you are growing at your own pace and in a manner that fulfills you. Healthy competition is supposed to inspire team work and sportsmanship. You don’t wish ill of others in the competition; in fact, it’s the exact opposite. Healthy competition dictates that you wish the best for the other guy because this also pushes you to be your best. 

When you focus on doing your best and achieving your goal, what the other guy does doesn’t matter. You have no distractions because you are not spending creative and tenacious power worrying about the other guy – your focus is simply to achieve your goal. 

One of the best aspects about healthy competition is that it increases your ability to achieve excellence in interdependent situations. While independence is important – it is certainly not as important as interdependence. Interdependent relationships are the pinnacle of excellence when it comes to success. No man is an island – the most successful individuals understand that working with others creates the best results. Greatness is not achieved alone but rather through the power of others.

To see people truly excel to great heights, it is important to challenge them from a standpoint of the things they value most. What is valuable to one may be worthless to another. You may have heard the cliché before “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.” 

Healthy competition requires this mindset because it provides a platform for win/win when the prize is valuable to the players. While there may be physical accolades, the more important reward must come from within in order to create residual satisfaction. Healthy competition is certainly not about instant gratification but rather about impactful and long lasting fulfillment.

 

Think of it this way… 

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson did not simply want to beat each other on the court. They wanted to be the best in the game and therefore they wanted to play against the best. These two were the best and they respected each other. If one of them were to be injured before a game, the other would be totally disappointed because he knew he would not have the opportunity to play against the best. You see instead of wishing ill for each other, they did the exact opposite – they wished for each to be healthy just so they could play against the best in order to become the best in the game of basketball. 

The goals that great athletes set have very little to do with the other guy and much more to do with what they want to achieve in their game of choice. Their focus is on the goals that they set – it doesn’t matter what the other guy is doing. The other guy only represents a milestone on the way to achieving the ultimate goal. 

When you are not the victor – when you do not achieve your goal in a competition, the best thing to do is study what worked and what didn’t and learn from them. Learn from your opponents and give their game the respect it deserves. Healthy competition is about hope and inspiration – when you have tall hopes and you have been inspired, you will be able to do the same for others. 

Competition is good as long as it’s healthy. 
 

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The Natural Law of Re-action & Pro-action

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion and it is a sound and true principle. Essentially, this means that if you lean on a wall, the wall must lean back in order for you and it to remain standing otherwise, you would go through it. 

The law of physics is simply undeniable and irrefutable.  

I do want to point out just how important it is that you grasp this concept in order to fully comprehend the objective of this article. The goal is to help you understand the difference between re-action and pro-action. Furthermore, it is to help you realize which action you want to be a part of in order to significantly improve upon your personal growth. 

What I am about to share with you may seem harsh to some degree and down right abrasive; however, the reality check is better delivered raw in this case so that you can clearly see the value. 

Eat your Wheaties before you read if you need to. 
  

Re-Action

Reaction dictates that you only act when acted upon by other people or circumstances. Your choices are mainly grounded in what others think of you and not what you think of yourself. Your actions are largely dictated by conditioned beliefs and by what is happening to the people and circumstances around you. You only change when they change.

When you react, it means that you are affected by changes but not necessarily that you affect them. In fact, you are a part of the status quo much more often than you are a part of evolution and progressive change. 

Reactive individuals do not take responsibility for what they say or do; it’s always someone or something else’s fault. They do not see the simple truth that the choices that they make are directly related to the results they achieve. Reactive individuals have a “tit for tat” mindset. They tend to believe that what you say and do is based on what is happening around you.

The natural law of reaction states that when you react, you will only heighten and stir up the situation to which you are reacting which will create a snowball effect. It doesn’t matter if the situation is positive of negative, it will be compounded and magnified by your reaction.

 

Pro-Action

Pro-action dictates that you only act on your own core values and beliefs regardless of the people and circumstances around you. Your choices are mainly grounded in what you think of yourself and your conviction in your value system and beliefs. Your actions are largely dictated by the goals that you have set for yourself and your desire to achieve them. You change course only when your personal blueprint or mission changes. 

When you pro-act, it means that you are affecting changes rather than simply being affected by them. In fact, you abhor the status quo and consistently seek to change things for the better – you are a part of evolution and progressive change. 

Pro-active individuals always take responsibility for what they say and do. They do not blame others or circumstances for the results they achieve because they understand that their choices are the reason they are where they are and have what they have. Pro-active individuals have a “solution and results” mindset. They are much more interested in a desirable outcome than a mindless reaction that means nothing and solves even less. 

The natural law of pro-action states that when you pro-act, you will only release and alleviate emotional stress and angst which provides a calmer more suitable environment for meaningful exchanges. It doesn’t matter if a situation is positive or negative; it will be defused by pro-action.

 

Application

Now that you understand the natural law of re-action and pro-action, it is important to understand how to apply them. 

In my opinion, reaction is almost always not a good avenue to trot. Sure there are certain situations when your reaction doesn’t matter as much; however, in my experience it’s a bad habit to develop because it affects all of your choices and actions. 

When you simply react, it’s another way of giving away your personal power. Essentially, what you’re saying is that you have no choice but to blow whichever direction the wind is blowing. You have no control over you or what you think, say and do – this is what you’re telling the world when you simply react. 

Reactive people are always affected by changes but they influence and affect very little change. Most often, they are not good leaders and they make poor choices in their personal growth. 

On the other hand, pro-action is almost always a good avenue to trot. In fact, I cannot think of one situation where pro-activity would be better than reactivity.

When you pro-act, you instantly increase your personal power; you are saying that you make your own choices. The direction of the wind does not dictate your direction – that comes from within. You take responsibility for what you think, say and do and you realize that these are all your choices. 

Pro-active people always affect changes – they influence the people and circumstances around them. These are usually good leaders because they make sound choices that are grounded in correct principles. People tend to want to follow pro-active individuals because they know where they are going. They do not simply knock about until the tides drop them on an uncharted desert island. They make things happen. 

Whether you believe it or not, the natural law of re-action and pro-action is operating in your life right now. All you have to decide is whether you are going to wait for things to happen to you before you act or will you make things happen. I can tell you that no truly successful individual has ever sat back and waited for things to simply happen. They take action – they make choices and move fervently towards their goal. 

Reactive people are like sheep waiting for the wolf to show up before they build a fence to keep him out. Pro-active people are like chipmunks that forage for food before the dawn of winter – they don’t wait for the frost before they stock up. 

The question is, are you a sheep or a chipmunk? 
 

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Attitude, Aptitude & Altitude – Powerful Principles in Personal Leadership

You cannot lead others in any area of life until you first succeed in leading yourself in the same. This is what it means to lead by example. 

Mohandas Gandhi said “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Truer words have never been spoken about personal leadership – leading self. Essentially, the powerful principle at work here says that to the degree that you can lead yourself successfully – you can lead others to that level. You cannot however help others succeed at anything beyond a level that you have not attained.  That would be like you coaching an apple tree on what type of apples to bear. It doesn’t make sense – does it? 

Success in your personal growth will be defined by your success in personal leadership. It will be crystallized by how well you lead yourself in the different areas of your life. How you lead yourself is the way you will lead others. 

Ever notice how those individuals who seem to hate their lives are consistently saying and doing things to make others miserable? Often times we are not even aware of our behavior until we either reap the negative consequences or someone who loves us enough tells us about it. 

Success in your personal leadership will depend on many factors; however, following are 3 of the major pillars of personal leadership. The goal of this article is to not only raise your awareness to these factors but also to help you understand how they apply in your life and your personal growth.

 

1.    Attitude

The manner in which you approach any situation is crucial to the results that you ultimately achieve. If you can maintain a positive attitude, you will always be able to find the upside in almost any situation. 

While I am completely aware that it is sometimes hard to maintain a positive attitude, I am totally convinced that doing so makes a significant difference in the results you achieve. 

Your attitude determines your mindset; it is the foundation on which your responses sit. The attitude you choose to have – and yes it is your choice – will determine how effective you are. 

To maintain a positive attitude, it is important that you believe in 3 things:

1.      Believe in choice – you must believe in your ability to choose your attitude and your responses in any given situation. No matter how hard it may seem, how you respond to circumstances and the people around you is your choice. You are the master of your fate and the choices you make determine it. 

2.      Believe in possibilities – make no assumptions and embrace change; this is how you believe in possibilities. When you believe in possibilities, it opens your heart and mind to new worlds; some of which you have only imagined and even the ones you have not. This mindset significantly impacts your attitude in a positive way because when you are open instead of closed, your experiences are richer and you feel a whole lot better. 

3.      Believe in the future – your attitude will be acutely affected by your hope for the future. If you have no hope then your attitude will be one of pessimism and cynicism. If you truly have hope for the future – a better tomorrow – your attitude will reflect it and so will your choices. 

The way that you approach your life and your outlook for the future are the fuel for a positive attitude. Without a positive attitude, it will be hard for you to imagine a better tomorrow. This is why your mindset is so important to your success – to improving your personal leadership.

 

2.  Aptitude

Success in your personal leadership also requires that you continuously seek to improve your abilities. If you can only lead others to the level of success that you’ve experienced then consistently improving your abilities will provide you with more experiences and knowledge to share. 

Your aptitude determines how well you do something; it is the level of your abilities that will sustain the fire in your attitude. If you do not seek to improve your skills or use your gifts then you will continue to struggle. The more you struggle the harder it will become to maintain a positive attitude. 

A very popular misconception is that having a positive attitude is all you need to succeed. While it is obvious that a positive attitude is vital to success, it cannot stand alone. If you have no clue what you are doing and no plans to learn, you will achieve nothing. Your attitude is the foundation; however, your abilities determine the success in execution.

There is no use sending in the world’s greatest electrician to do a plumber’s job – he simply doesn’t have the propensity for fixing pipes; wires for sure but not pipes. Additionally, no one wants to follow anyone who is clueless about what he/she is doing or where he/she is going. 

High aptitude requires 3 things:

1.      Keen awareness – the more aware you are, the better the choices you make and the more effective you will be. It is easy to become aware of your strengths; however, becoming aware of your shortcomings is more difficult because we don’t want to see ourselves in that light. It is important though to look at yourself honestly and give an accurate assessment of your abilities. The more you know what you don’t know, the more you will learn.

2.      Practice – it does truly make perfect. The more you do something the better you become at it and the more success you achieve. High aptitude comes from doing; acting on the things you learn. 

3.      Mentorship – this goes both ways in improving aptitude. While it is vital to your personal growth and leadership that you find and follow mentors, it is equally vital that you mentor others. Although this is also a form of leading others, it can do wonders for your own personal leadership. The more you share your knowledge and experience with others, the more room you create to fill up on more knowledge and experience. One of the best ways to keep learning is to teach. 

If you can master these 3 elements, your aptitude – your skill level will improve significantly.

 

3.  Altitude

Your altitude is about the heights to which you can grow. We all have the potential to reach tremendous heights; however, many of us won’t even reach half that potential. Your altitude is fueled by your attitude and aptitude. 

With the right mindset and the consistent growth of your skill set, there are no limits to what you can achieve. There are no limits except for those that we place on ourselves. Often times the biggest roadblocks we face are in our minds. 

Let’s look at altitude from an academic standpoint. In order to move to the next level, you must successfully pass different tests or exams that the curriculum requires. Essentially, your studies prepare you so that you can showcase your level of ability on these tests or exams. If you cannot pass the tests or exams for a particular level, you do not earn your degree so that you can move to the next level. 

Individuals who consistently move to the next level all have to focus on these 3 things:

1.      Desire – you must understand your true desires in order to reach high altitudes. The more you understand what it is you truly seek, the better your choices will be, bringing you ever closer to your goals. With a crystallized goal in mind, your choices and actions will reflect that intensity. 

2.      Intent – knowing exactly what you intend is like an arrow heading for the bull’s eye; its purpose is clear. Desire precedes intent and intent precedes follow through. Again, it is important to truly understand exactly what your intentions are; this is your guiding light for the choices you make. You decide what to do and say based on your true intent. Academia-wise, your true intent will dictate how much you need to study and so forth.

3.      Follow through – without action, nothing gets done. This is why it is important to follow through on your plans. Personal leadership requires that you follow through on your intent in order to achieve your goal. When your desire and intent are clear, it will help you to avoid the pitfalls of the debilitating disease of procrastination. 

The most beautiful thing about altitude is that it is defined by the limitations you place on yourself. Altitude is a principle which means it is limitless; you can never exhaust it. The minute you understand that, you realize a profound shift in your mindset. Once you begin to believe in infinite possibilities and that the universe has the power to deliver anything you desire – you’re truly FREE. 

My experience has been that improving these 3 powerful principles in personal leadership result in milestone successes every single time. Whenever I have applied them, the results I have achieved have been profound, impacting and fulfilling. 

If you can improve your ability to lead yourself, others will want to follow your example because you are authentic. 

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The Natural Law of Momentum

How may people even realize that momentum is a natural law – a universal principle; that it exists and operates in our lives whether we believe it or not? 

The incredible thing about momentum is that once you understand it and how it applies to your life and personal growth, your chances of success go way up. If you can align your choices, thoughts and actions with the universal principle – the natural law of momentum, your success rate will go through the roof. 

As with all natural laws though – you can either operate in ways where they serve you or break you. Remember principles are not biased; they do not break – we can only break ourselves against them.

 

Let’s first define momentum. 

Momentum is impetus, force, thrust; it is the energy source that drives something else. It is like an avalanche that builds in magnitude, speed and potential as it gushes down the slope.

 

Momentum Awareness

As I have often said; what you are aware of you can act on, what you are unaware of acts on you. I can say with certainty that you are either acting on momentum right now or momentum is acting on you. It is irrelevant whether you believe it or not – it is happening anyway. 

Whatever you give consistent and increasing energy to will build massive momentum in your life. As one of my mentors Blair Singer puts it, “highest energy” wins. This is so true. What you feed grows; what you starve dies. It couldn’t be simpler when it comes to momentum.

 

Take the old Eskimo analogy…

There was once an old Eskimo that had one black dog and one white dog and every Saturday; these dogs would fight until one of them was too tired to continue. Some Saturdays the black dog would win and on others the white dog would win. The odd thing was no matter which dog won the old Eskimo would always bet on the winner – somehow he always knew which one would win. 

One day, a young fellow asked the old Eskimo “How is it that you always bet on the winning dog; how do you always know which one will win.” The old Eskimo replied “Why that’s easy son – I just bet on the one I had been feeding all week.” 

So you see, what you feed – give energy to will grow and what you starve will die.

 

Here’s the point… 

If you consistently and increasingly feed or give energy to negativity, the negative events in your life will become plentiful and momentous. If you get up every day and whine, complain and bitch about the things you don’t have, you will only get more of nothing. Your bank account of “have not” will continue to grow and build magnitude, speed and potential just like an avalanche. 

Have you ever noticed that the more down you are the more the universe works to keep you down? That’s the natural law – universal principle – of momentum at work in your life. 

On the other hand, if you consistently and increasingly feed or give energy to positivity, the positive events in your life will become plentiful and momentous. If you get up every day feeling happy to be alive, give thanks for what you have and show gratitude for others, you will get even more to be thankful and grateful for. Your bank account “have” will continue to grow and build magnitude, speed and potential just like an avalanche. 

Have you ever noticed that the more up you are, the more the universe works to keep you up? That too is the natural law – universal principle – of momentum at work in your life.

 

Momentum Application

I don’t think I am making any assumptions when I say that you would rather give energy to the best things in your life than the worst. I am sure you would rather feel more up than down every day of the week. If not – don’t bother reading any further because this won’t help you. 

Now that you understand that momentum is indeed a natural law – a universal principle – it is important that you understand how to apply it to your life and personal growth. 

Momentum is a perpetual cycle; it is always going and continues infinitely. Knowing this helps you to understand that the more energy you give to the people, circumstances and activities in your life, the more energy they will need and the more room they will occupy. What this means is that it is your responsibility to choose your relationships, circumstances and activities wisely. 

To ensure that the momentum in your life is fueled with the proper octane of gasoline, you must make choices that are in line with your core values and grounded in correct principles. Feeding any negativity whether by way of your relationships or activities will only make the negative events more momentous in your life. There is a reason why you are often judged by the company you keep. 

Certainly, you may not be a thief BUT, if you hang out with thieves, you cannot then be truly astonished if others also believe that you too are a thief. It may not be right for others to make that assumption; however, you can certainly see how easy it would be to make such an assumption considering the company you keep. 

Furthermore, if you are not a thief, why would you hang out with thieves? Hanging out with thieves whilst not being a thief is like saying I’m not a minion of Satan – I just like hanging out in hell. 

Sure that’s your prerogative but it would be kind of hard not to see you as one of his minions. Besides, it’s hypocritical to say you are one thing and yet give energy to something completely opposite. The point is that if you give thieves energy, their aura and energy will build up momentum in and around your life. When the police come knocking – don’t be surprised. 

If you want the right things (whatever right things mean to you) to build momentum in your life, those are what you have to focus on. The difficulty comes in when life throws you all sorts of curve balls and it becomes near impossible to juggle them all. Frustration sets in, then dejection and ultimately depression which leads to a negative spiral down into the abyss of despair. 

The goal then is to maintain a positive attitude much more often that you do a negative one. This way, you will be able to feed the right things and give energy to positivity. Here are a few tips that can help you maintain a more positive attitude. 

• Give thanks every day – each day you rise, give thanks for life; for the blessings in your life no matter how small you may think they are. Find new things to give thanks for and the more you do it, the more you will get to be thankful for. 

• Celebrate all wins – learn to celebrate all your wins and the wins of others. No matter how small the success, give yourself a pat on the back for having accomplished it; shout it out – tell someone and truly feel good about it.

• Show gratitude – first of all show appreciation for you and then show appreciation for all the people in your life. Show appreciation even for the people who don’t like you as much; appreciate the lessons you’ve learned because of them.

• Be of service to others – find new ways to be of service to others; it doesn’t matter what you do so long as you provide value to someone else with a genuine heart. The greatest gift that you can ever give to another is YOU. 

The more you can maintain a positive attitude, the easier it will be for you to focus on more productive and enlightening things. You will complain less and solve more problems; you will whine less and help more; you will take less and give more; you will pout less and do more. All of these things will positive momentum in your life. 

If you’re still thinking that this really can’t be all there is to it – think again. 

Just think about how much energy you’ve given in the past to some of the most negative and repeating occurrences in your life. Think about all the complaining, whining and bitching you did about them. Worse yet; think of how many conversations you entertained about them – this is where momentum really gets out of control. 

The ripple effect of one conversation spanned across 10 people who talk to 10 other people each who also talk to 10 other people each would result in a 1,000 person ripple effect. That becomes a magnitude of 1,000 negative conversations building momentum around just one issue. That’s the power of momentum. 

Can you then imagine the same scenario around much more positive topics? The build of momentum would be the same 1,000 ripples; however, the feeling and the atmosphere would be totally different and much more fulfilling. 

The natural law of momentum simply says that the more force you put behind something – the more energy you feed it, the bigger and faster it gets and the more potential it has on impact. 

When you consider this, what are the things you want to stop giving your energy to right now? What are some of the issues that have been plaguing you repeatedly because you kept feeding into them? 

Ponder it a moment and I am sure you will come up with a few things almost immediately. Once I understood this principle, the immediate changes in my life were profound and impactful and still continue to be. It’s not always easy to flip the switch the other way; however, I can say with absolute certainty that every time I have – it’s been totally worth it.

Here’s to more positively momentous events in your life.  

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7 Popular Negative Phrases You May Not Be Aware Of

There are so many things that we say daily without even thinking; some good some bad. Usually, we understand exactly what we’re saying and have a pretty good idea of what the impact might be. 

There are those times though when we say some things and unbeknownst to us, does way more damage than we are aware of. The reason is because when we use these phrases, we don’t even realize that they are negative. What’s worse, we are totally ignorant of how using these phrases affect our attitudes and actions. 

Don’t be shocked at some of the phrases you read in this article; furthermore, don’t fall off your chair if you realize you use one or more of them way too often. My goal is simple; to raise your awareness to 7 of the most popular negative phrases that masquerade as positive or realistic sayings. 

Ready? Ok, here goes…

 

1.    It is what it is

On its face, this phrase may sound like a realistic one; it might even sound positive to many. The underlying meaning is supposed to be that you are ok with what is and that you’re just dealing with it. 

The problem with this phrase however, is that it puts you in a weak, digressive and reactive mindset. It is what it is basically says that you have no influence over what happens to you or around you. It says that you are at the mercy of all that is and will be and that you have no choice but to deal with what comes because that is all you can do. 

Even if when you say this phrase this is not what you mean, it still creates that negative energy. The truth is that rather than saying “It is what it is”, a more firm, progressive and proactive thought would be to say, “It is what I make it.” Now doesn’t that sound much more positive and uplifting? 

When you say or invoke that “It is what I make it”, you are in effect saying that you do have influence over what happens to you and around you. You are saying that you don’t have to just deal with what comes, you can make choices to create the future in which you want to live. So please, can this phrase immediately if you are a user or worse an abuser. 
  

2.  What is to be will be

Really… is that truly the message you want to convey? 

This again is another phrase masquerading as realistic but really not – and certainly not positive. What is to be will be is an excuse not to act; it’s a cop out. In the words of the great Bob Marley “Every man (or woman) has a right to decide his own destiny.” 

This phrase creates a mindset that you have no control over what happens to you or your station in life. It basically says that your future is already written and no matter what you do today, you cannot affect tomorrow. Nothing could be further from the truth. The real truth is that no matter what has happened in your past and no matter what is going on in your life presently, it is the choices you make today that will determine the outcome of your tomorrow. There are no ifs ands or buts about that. 

When you invoke “What is to be will be”, you’ve already given up your power to the people and circumstances around you. If you believe that you have the ultimate power to choose your destiny, a better phrase would be “If it’s to be it’s up to me.” Certainly this phrase sounds better that to leave your fate to the will of the blowing winds. 

Remember this… while people and circumstances undoubtedly influence your actions, they do not determine; only you and your ultimate power of choice determines your fate. What you make of your life is totally up to you whether you believe it or not.

 

3.  I’ll believe it when I see it

This phrase is extremely popular – sometimes said like this: “seeing is believing.”  What an absolute mind job this is! 

Basically, this phrase strips you of any hope for mankind or the greatness within it. I hope it doesn’t surprise you to see me take it this far. The truth is that it does run this deep.

 

Ponder a moment… 

I’ll believe it when I see it essentially means that you don’t accept anything as real unless it first manifests before your eyes. Can you see the absolute buffoonery in this thinking? How can anything come to past unless it is first believed? 

Nothing happens unless someone believes it is going to happen; belief precedes action and action begets results. To the degree that you believe something, your results will reflect the same intensity. 

It stands to principle then that “I’ll believe it when I see it” is not only negative but also ass backwards. If you wish to see anything manifest in your life, a more impactful and principle-aligned phrase would be “I’ll see it when I believe it.” This is how you manifest your success – you must first believe that it will happen and your actions will fall in line which will produce the results you desire. 

Look, if you are still going to continue using this phrase, it means two things: first you are definitely a cynic and all you can think of is negativity. Second, you are totally ok with being a BUFFOON.  

4.  I can’t…

Any phrase that starts like this can only go downhill from there. This is a tough one because often times when we use the term “I can’t” what we really mean is “I choose.” 

It was difficult; however, I have managed to reduce the use of this significantly and it has done wonders for my attitude. The more you begin your phrases with I can’t, the more disempowered you become. You see, every time you say I can’t, you are in effect saying that you have no choice and that someone else is pulling your strings like a puppet. 

The way I see it is that you have to go from puppet to puppet master. No one pulls your strings but you. My experience is that there are two instances in which the “I can’t” term comes out rather quickly. The first is when you truly believe that making any other choice would be dire to you. The second is when you need to shelter yourself from the backlash; you don’t want to be accountable for your choice so you back pedal by saying “I can’t. 

Either way, all you are doing is disempowering yourself more. Instead of “I can’t”, more empowering phrases would be “I can” or “I choose.” Sure, both alternatives make you responsible for what you say and accountable to your word but so what – that’s the way it is supposed to be. Don’t be a powder puff – own your choices.

 

5.  That’s impossible

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard (used) this one, I’d own my own island by now. This is a phrase that quickly passes our lips the moment we hear something that is different than what we believe. People who live to uphold the status quo often think that anything that goes against the status quo is impossible. 

No matter how many human, scientific, medical and technological breakthrough we achieve, some of us still find it difficult to stop abusing these words. The fact of the matter is nothing is impossible – NOTHING! 

The universe has an infinite supply of possibilities that we cannot hope or even begin to exhaust. The mere fact that change and evolution take place constantly negates the possibility of exhausting possibilities. I don’t know if it ever sounded intelligent but I know that in this day and age, using the phrase “That’s impossible” sounds dim-witted at best. 

Instead of responding by saying “That’s impossible” when you hear something different or unusual, try a response like “How would that work?” or “What does that look like to you?” or something more humble like “I never thought of it that way.” You will learn so much more if you can practice this approach. 

Let me put it this way… if you can recall at least 5 events or discoveries that you once thought were impossible, you should eliminate this phrase from your vocabulary immediately. And, if you are unable to do that, then you are either a developing infant or you’ve been sleepwalking for at least the past decade. For your sake I hope you are the former. 
 

6.  What if it doesn’t work?

Yeah… but what if it does? 

Fear is a major driver of this negative phrase. People who are fearful of change often ask this question because they only need one reason not to move forward. This gives them a way out – something to blame other that where the blame squarely rests – on their shoulders. 

Don’t get me wrong, it is totally ok and prudent to review and research and crosscheck your facts and figures. When you’re doing that though, you ought to be looking for solutions to the problems you encounter. If all you ever do is point out the problem, it is like throwing gasoline on a fire and simply walking away.

Visionaries don’t ever think in terms of what won’t work; they always want to know what will. The fact that something won’t work just means that there is a solution that needs to be found. If you are constantly asking “What if it doesn’t work?” you are just impeding progress. 

Instead of asking “What if it doesn’t work?” ask “What if it does?” This thinking creates a mindset of solutions and possibilities. It gives rise to creativity, tenacity and powerful imagination. At some point, in order for an idea to flourish, you simply have to let it go and see what happens. Celebrate the successes and learn from the failures – that is all you have to do.

 

7.   If only I had more…

This phrase is the quintessential beginning of some of the best excuses ever thought of. This is because it is so easy and seemingly justified when you begin your phrases with this. It basically lays the burden of every shortcoming and failure on things over which we have no control.

 

For instance… 

“If only I had more time.” This said even when you knew from the onset exactly how much time you had. Another classic is “If only I had more money.” Really… what difference would it make? And furthermore, it’s easy to simply dodge the bullet by saying if only I had more money when all the while you know you have no plan or any hope of ever having more than 2 pennies in your pocket. 

First of all where time is concerned, you’re never going to have more or less of it. Time is a principle that merely exists; it is constant and keeps ticking away no matter what you do. All we can do is manage ourselves in alignment with the principle; this is why we invented 24 hours for a day and so forth. It is simply an effort to be more productive, efficient and healthy. 

As for having more money – hogwash; work with your true gifts and talents to create and distribute value to others. If you are tying your worth to how much money you have, you aren’t really worth that much anyway. 

The bottom line here is that this phrase places blame on things over which you have no control which makes them the perfect scapegoats. This is a negative mindset because it robs you of abundant thinking. Instead of beginning your phrase with “If only I had more…” begin by saying “I appreciate….” When you show gratitude, you get more to be grateful for. 

This mindset creates a more positive and uplifting attitude that can only propel your success even further. 

If you are still reading, I suspect that one of two things must have happened…

1.      This article actually struck a nerve a it’s making you think and rethink your entire vocabulary – this is good 

2.      You have been laughing your ass off the whole way through and you couldn’t wait to read what hilarious thing I was going to say next – this is also good.

 

Here’s the deal… 

If you truly believe that your words carry any kind of power, I am certain you would want to be careful what you say. My goal was to raise your awareness; the rest is up to you. Just remember what you are aware of you can act on, what you are unaware of acts on you. 
 

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How to Overcome Procrastination

This debilitating disease has plagued us all at one point or another in our lives. For some of us, it is a constant and infectious virus running amuck in our world. My experience is that procrastination is a dream killer – it can really take you out of the game of life. If you are unaware of the dangers, it can take you out for good. 

The bottom line is that a procrastinator is a self-assassinator. 

For those brave enough to accept the challenge of curing this awful disease, the results are staggeringly positive when you succeed. The sad truth is that the challengers are few and far between. 

I have met and counseled so many individuals who set goal after goal but never get around to taking one step towards them. And by the way, I’m not talking about dodo heads and morons – I’m talking about people with at least half a brain which is more than enough to get most things done. 

  

Why people procrastinate

Fear is the number one reason why people procrastinate. It’s either fear of failure or even success. It’s the fear of looking stupid to the world if it doesn’t work. It is a mark of the cynicism and negativity that has taken root in our psyche over time. Unless you can weed this out, procrastination is sure to be the victor.

 

Think about it for a moment… 

What are you waiting for to go after your dreams? The truth is that the tides will never be just right; the moon and the stars will not align perfectly to give you a sign. This is a fool’s folly – your destiny is not out there – it rests with you. No matter what excuses you make and no matter how many justifications you give, your future is still in your hands. The moon and stars align only when you are ready to act – it may seem like a miracle but it won’t happen unless you make it happen.

 

Here’s what usually happens though… 

First you tell yourself it’s not the right time and yet you make no plans or preparations for when the right time arrives. How can it ever be the right time if you are not prepared? 

Next you ask yourself “what if it doesn’t work?” This is only gives you a myriad of reasons why not. The one you should be asking, the one that truly makes a difference, is “what if it does work?” 

The list could go on and on here but I think you get the gist. People with an excuse mindset will come up with all sorts of rational lies (rationalize) why something cannot happen and won’t work.

 

The right mindset

In order to diminish procrastinating habits, it is important that you have the right mindset. If your first response is to make excuses and offer justifications when you are challenged, procrastination grows in your life. These are the elements that this debilitating disease feeds on; this is how it envelops your life. 

The more excuses you make, the more procrastination grows. Have you ever noticed that when you put off one thing just how easy it becomes to put off the next thing? It can become a vicious cycle before you realize what is really happening. By the time you wake up and smell the coffee, you’re in debt, you’ve been passed over for that promotion 3 times, you’re about to lose your house and your wife and kids don’t know you anymore. 

OK… a little dramatic – yes. I am sure you can appreciate the underlying message though; if you aren’t careful procrastination can cause major upheaval in your life. 

The mindset that works to eliminate procrastination is one of responsibility and accountability. You must endeavor to hold yourself accountable for your actions or in this case your inaction. You have to be the first person not to let you off the hook with feeble excuses and justifications. 

If you need to, devise a system of actions and consequences for yourself. For instance, every time you make excuses for your actions, you deprive yourself of something you really love – your favorite food, your favorite pastime, sex. 

It might sound silly; however, if you can muster the strength to practice this, your procrastinating ways will surface quickly and often. The goal of this exercise is to raise your awareness of how often you procrastinate – even about the simplest things. Often times, we don’t even realize this is happening until the disease has become a giant malignant tumor.

 

Reducing Procrastinating Behaviors

I am not going to write about eliminating procrastination completely because I don’t know if that is realistic. I mean, there are things that I still procrastinate on; they just aren’t the most important in my life. 

My experience is that reducing procrastination especially around the things that matter most, significantly improves your success rate at anything. So, even though I am sure that some of you don’t procrastinate at all about anything, I won’t take that route because I’d be a hypocrite. 

Following are 5 habits that help to reduce procrastination significantly.

1. Create a personal mission statement – this will help you center and focus your energies. A personal mission statement outlines what you are about, where you are going and how you plan to get there. You see, often times we procrastinate because we don’t have a clear picture in our minds who we are or where we are going; this creates “scatter brain” syndrome.

2. Write down and date your goals – this is so important; it’s a lesson I had to learn the hard way over and over before it clicked in my brain. This is probably one of the most powerful habits that I have ever developed. When you write down and date your goals, they instantly become real. Now it’s in ink and you can look at it. You have something to refer back to; you don’t need to remember what you’re supposed to be doing. When you write down and date your goals, you can track them; you can track yourself against them to see how you are doing. Many times we don’t even know how badly we suck because we have no barometer – no checks and balances. When your goals are written down and dated, it is harder to hide from them. 

3. Make “to do” lists – whether you do this daily or weekly, it is important to make “to do” lists. This is another powerful tool because each time you check something off, you get more excited. When you don’t have a list, you don’t even know what you’ve done and worse, days may go by and you haven’t done one thing that you really wanted to do. Your to do list is a guide – it is your tactic sheet that is helping you execute the strategy you’ve put together to achieve your goals.

4. Celebrate all wins – it is important that you celebrate all your wins no matter how small. Each time you check something off your list, you should celebrate it because you’ve accomplished something. When you do this, it will fuel your passion and motivation to do even more and achieve at even greater heights. Celebrating a win can be as easy as pumping a fist in the air, pulling it in and saying “YES” emphatically. Blair Singer taught me that one and it really gets your juices going.

5. Debrief regularly – whether you succeed or not at something, it is extremely important that you debrief yourself. Do this alone or with someone else if you need to BUT do it. Procrastination is like a virus – it latches on to negativity quickly and just spreads like wildfire. Especially when things don’t go as planned, it is important that you get your head around it as quickly as possible by debriefing. Ask yourself what worked and what didn’t and then learn from the hiccups. Don’t internalize the failure and let that stop you from moving forward or trying again… failure is just an event not you. 

Practicing these 5 habits will undoubtedly improve your ability to focus and center your energies. You will be able to overcome procrastination more easily and quickly especially in the areas that matter most to you. 

Procrastination may be a debilitating and vigorous disease but the good news is that there is a cure. What are you waiting for… stop procrastinating and get off your ass.  

 

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The Natural Law of Awareness

What you are aware of you can act on; what you are unaware of acts on you. This is such a profound realization as taught to me by one of my mentors. The simple truth of it is refreshing once you grasp it and the light bulb goes on in your head. 

Awareness is a principle that exists and operates in our lives whether we are aware that it does or not. Understanding how it works is crucial to success in your personal growth and development. My experience is that the more keen your awareness in a situation or about a particular circumstance, the more effective your actions and the results you achieve. 

Let’s first define awareness… 

Awareness speaks to your level of consciousness; how awake you are in a particular situation. It speaks volumes about your knowledge, responsiveness and alertness. It is about your sensitivity to you, circumstances and those around you. It goes to your receptiveness of the outside world and how you manage it on the inside. 

To the degree that you are aware of the inner and outer world, the effectiveness of your choices, thoughts and actions will reflect the same. How you behave will largely depend on how aware you are. 

When you raise your level of awareness, you automatically raise your potential for success. This is how the principle – the natural law of awareness works. It exists and operates whether you know it or not or believe it or not. It simply is. 

In my experience, awareness comes in 4 forms. You may have seen them categorized differently; however, these are basically the 4 different forms of awareness.

 

1.    Unawareness

The fact that you have no clue what is going on does not negate the fact that there is a level of awareness in play. In a state of ignorance, everything and everyone is acting on you without your knowledge. You may blame and complain about your circumstance and others at this level; however, the truth is that your unawareness is the real culprit in your frustration. 

When you lack knowledge of something; you also lack the ability to make other choices simply because you don’t even know they exist. In this case, ignorance is not necessarily bliss – in fact, it could be down right miserable. 

Here’s the lesson… 

Whether you have knowledge or not doesn’t mean that the knowledge doesn’t exist and that its existence isn’t operating in your life. It may be a little weird or hard to grasp at first BUT think about it – really think about it.

 

2.  Reactive Awareness

In this case you are always aware of and act on circumstances and people around you. The focus of your choices, thoughts and actions are largely based on how others view and treat you. 

Also, at this level, you do not accept total responsibility for your own choices, thoughts and actions. Since you are mostly reacting to circumstances and other people, you blame them for your choices, thoughts and actions. This is reactive behavior which causes a severe lack of self-leadership. 

Reactive awareness is not ideal simply because it leaves you out of the equation. When all your choices, thoughts and actions are based on circumstances and/or other people, you lack your own voice. You are not making decisions based on the things you value most but rather on the things you believe others value most.

No matter what you believe at this moment, it is certain that this way of thinking will lead to frustration and unhappiness. This is because, you cannot have good and firm grounding or a good sense of direction when you are simply blowing the way others and circumstances blow. If you change your stance with the direction of the wind, you will ultimately spiral into chaos, confusion and disarray. Your level of personal growth and success will undoubtedly be stunted.

 

3.  Proactive Awareness

Proactive awareness is complete awareness. In this mindset, although you are aware of others and circumstances, you are most aware of yourself. You are completely in tune with your choices, thoughts and actions and you understand that these are the things you truly control. 

You do not blame and complain about others and circumstances when things go wrong because you realize that your choices, thoughts and actions precipitated that outcome. Proactive awareness demands that you be responsible for you; the way you think and act in any given situation.

This means that you are aware of your strengths and your shortcomings; you are aware of others in the same manner; however, you do not base your choices on them. Your choices are based on your core values regardless of what others think. The person you show others is the person you want to be and not the person they want you to be. 

This is the practice of complete awareness – proactive awareness. You take a deliberate stance to be a person who evaluates his/her own choices, thoughts and actions so that you can learn to improve yourself.

 

4.  Instinctive Awareness

Frankly, this list could stop at 3; however, I have found it quite valuable to include this 4^th form of awareness. My experience is that when you practice something over and over again, you only become better and better at it. At some point, you no longer seem to have to put much effort into succeeding at it because it has become a habit – a part of your DNA. 

This form of awareness, I have dubbed instinctive awareness. At this level, you are so keenly aware that things seem to happen and function automatically. You make choices, think thoughts and act with your core values guiding you on auto-pilot. Certainly since you are always learning, there are things that will always be at the other 3 levels. Eventually though, if you are diligent in your practice and seek to improve your awareness at all times, you will end up here – at this level. 

For instance, reading, writing and attending seminars and workshops by incredible individuals from whom I can continue to learn is not something I really have to think about anymore. I just do it; it seems automatic. I instinctively spend time, money and resources improving my own personal power, growth and self-awareness. I love doing that and I realize of course that it helps me tremendously to help others even better. 

This is just me – what’s your vice? 

Here’s the caveat… 

As with all principles, your results are based on how well you operate in line with them. This means that especially at the level of instinctive awareness, if you are practicing negative behaviors, you will undoubtedly reap negative results. 

These are basically the 4 forms of awareness; as I said, you may categorize them differently; however, these are they. 

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The Natural Law of Choice & Result

It is an absolute that there are natural laws – universal principles that exist and act in our lives whether we believe it or not. These are no different than the law of gravity which basically says that what goes up must come down unless you remove gravity from the environment. 

As it pertains to our personal growth, it is imperative that we are aware of, understand and apply these principles in our lives. The pinnacle of success is achieved only when we adhere to natural laws. 

This article focuses on the natural law of Choice & Result. The absolute of this universal principle is that every choice has a specific end result. To the degree that you understand this natural law and how it applies to your personal growth, the results you achieve will reflect the same. 

The goal then is to help you properly define Choice and Result and then understand its most effective application in your life and for your personal growth.

 

The Meaning of Choice

While choice by definition means preferences, selection and options, I wanted to broaden its scope by delving even deeper. Choice at its very core; the spirit of it is truly about alternatives, abundance, possibilities and pro-activity. 

To take it a step further, choice is a responsibility; it centers on our ability to choose (select) our responses in any given situation. It is about being proactive in all that we do. This is why Choice is the Ultimate Power. 

The mere fact that we all have choices is indicative of the infinite possibilities that we can never exhaust. The examples of this principle are numerous. 

Who knew that the Internet would connect billions of people around the world in common bonds? What about Google? Who knew such a simple interface would have the power to help you find what you want when you wanted it – all in a virtual space? The list goes on and on and on… you can never exhaust it. 

This is the true meaning of choice.

 

The Meaning of Result

A result is the effect of a choice; it is the outcome caused by a decision that has been made. In the interest of broadening the scope of the word even further; a result is the consequence of a possibility. 

Yes, I am oversimplifying; however, I want you to get a simple point. The point is that results are not accidents; they are directly linked to choices. Even when we do not mean for something to happen and it happens any way, this result is due to a choice that was made. 

We may call it an accident and that’s fine for context; however, it is important to understand that a different choice would have produced a different result. In this vein, it is plain to see that we have the ultimate power to affect the results we achieve by making the right choices to do so. 

Simply put, there are no accidents. Every situation is precipitated by choices whether you believe it or not or whether you are aware of it or not. The fact that you are ignorant does not mean that the principle is not at play.

 

The Principle of Choice

I have written about choice extensively; still, I constantly get bombarded with comments and opposing arguments regarding my stance on choice as the ultimate power. The fact is that choice is a principle; it exists whether you believe it or not. It is always working whether you are aware of it or not. 

Choice precipitates thoughts and actions; it is where the party begins. 

OK… I’m going to attempt to anticipate all the questions, comments and resistance to this belief. Of course whether you believe me or not is absolutely irrelevant since principles merely exist and operate without bias and in a timeless vortex. 

There are 4 different mindsets to making choices; this is where I believe most of the confusion lies. Most individuals don’t even know the difference.

 

1.      Unconscious Incompetence

These are the choices we make in total and complete ignorance. We have no clue that other possibilities even exist so we just take whatever options are handed to us. This is the state of mind when you don’t know what you don’t know; nonetheless, you are still making choices. A choice to be ignorant though foolish is still a choice.

 

2.      Conscious Incompetence

In this state of mind at least you do have an understanding that you don’t know everything and more importantly that there are other possibilities. You still aren’t in a frame of mind to make the best choices; however, this is a good place to make new discoveries. You have made the choice not to be an ignorant moron. 

 

3.      Conscious Competence

In this mindset, you have elevated your game to making proactive choices to learn and grow. You completely understand that there are other possibilities. Furthermore, you believe that your success comes from the choices that you make and so you begin to practice and develop good habits. You are now aware that you don’t know squat and more importantly you are completely open to learn and discover new ways of doing things. You now understand that practice makes perfect.

 

4.      Unconscious Competence

This is the pinnacle of the ultimate power of choice; in this mindset, proactivity is now a habit; you are this way even when you sleep. Your choices are grounded in correct principles and you have high self value. Of course you are still learning new things; however, the habits that you have mastered are now a part of your DNA. 

Your choices surrounding these values you hold dear are now on automatic pilot. This is where the strength of your character becomes predictable which provides you a solid reputation for saying what you mean and doing what you say. You now consistently achieve the results you desire. 

These are the 4 mindsets of making choices; whether you believe it or not, you are in one of these mindsets each time you make a choice. I know that I have been in all 4 of them; I also know that I am in mindset 3 and 4 more often than not these days. Can you say the same? 

I am not saying this to brag; I am saying it because I believe that it is important that you understand choice and how it applies to your life and your personal growth. We are always making choices so make sure you are in the right mindsets when you make yours.

 

The Principle of Result

Since choice is a principle, then it stands to reason that the effect of choices is also a principle – results. Achieving the results you desire depend almost entirely upon the choices you make. 

Stephen R. Covey puts it this way… 

We have no control over 10% of the things that happen to us because those result from the choices other people make. The other 90% of what happens to us is based on how we respond to the 10%. 

Simply put, while 10% of the things that happen to us are out of our control, the other 90% certainly is based on how we handle that 10%. This is known as the 90/10 principle. 

There are 3 different types of results we can achieve.

1.      Monotonous

Monotonous results are repetitious and same; they usually include making the same choices over and over again while expecting different results. This is of course the definition of insanity; still, many individuals fall into this trap constantly. These types of results are most likely the product of the level 1 mindset of choice – unconscious incompetence. It can also occur in the level 2 mindset if you have not yet reached the threshold of pain for your particular situation. 

The fact is that people don’t change until the need for change becomes self-evident so monotony is something you are likely to experience in your results until you choose to change.

 

2.      Unexpected

These are the “accidents” of the world; the results you do not plan for. Although unexpected, they are still precipitated by choice. While these results can occur at any mindset level, it is much easier to grasp and adapt when you completely understand choice. An unexpected result occurs when you make a choice in the hopes of achieving one thing and end up achieving something different.

The fact that you ended up with unwanted or unexpected results does not negate the fact that had you not made the choices you did, you would not have achieved the results you did. Unexpected results are not necessarily bad and are infinitely good if you can always find the lesson or wisdom within them.

 

3.      Expected

These are the results that you do plan for; your choices are deliberate in these instances. When you achieve the results you desire, it is due to a series of choices that you made purposely to do so. 

For the most part expected results happen when choices are made in the level 3 and 4 mindset. In these mindsets, you begin your journey at the finish line and then take the appropriate steps to achieve the vision and the mission. With a strong focus on the goal and diligence in execution, deriving expected results becomes – well – more expected. 

These are the 3 types of results that you can achieve. Whether you believe it or not, you achieve these results based on the choices that you make. Your mindset level when making the choices will greatly influence the type of results you achieve. 

The Natural Law of Choice & Result is constantly at work – nonstop – and unbiased. These are universal principles that do not break or change – they merely exist and operate whether we believe that they do or not. 

Take a hard look at your own life and situation; examine your own personal growth challenges and I am sure that if you are honest with yourself, you will realize the power in understanding the principles of choice and result.

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A Life without Enemies

At first glance, you might think the title of this article is over-reaching. You might even think it a bit naive. I admit I used to think the same. My experience though has taught me that living a life without enemies is actually the easy part; the hard part is grasping and accepting the thought process that governs it.

 

Do you have those in your life you consider enemies? Does anyone you know consider you to be an enemy? What would it mean to you if at the very least you knew of a way to minimize these instances in your life?

 

If you find that this would be valuable insight for you or someone you know, I invite you to settle in and read on.

 

Firstly, it is important to understand where our enemies come from. Get ready... it's kind of a whopper. Ready? Ok... 
  

We create our own enemies... yes that's right. There are no enemies that we have that we do not create. It is our perception of people and circumstances that create our greatest enemies. Once you can digest this simple truth, it will be easier for you to understand the attitude required to change it.

 

You can change your world whenever you wish by simply changing yourself. In fact, it is impossible for you to change your world or the world at large without first changing yourself.

 

To live an enemy-free life, there are 2 factors that must be addressed in sequence.

1.    The Enemy Within

We are our worst enemy; we do more damage to ourselves than any person or circumstance ever can. Since we have the power to control our thoughts, attitude and actions, we have the power to either inflict great harm or incredible good.

 

This being said, the first enemy we have to deal with on the road to a life without enemies is the enemy within. Improving upon the following 3 elements will have a profound and positive impact on your success in this area.

 

·         See the best in you

It is important that you do not allow your mind to work against you. Look for the best things in you at all times. Even when you fail to reach a goal, instead of focusing on the failure itself, focus on what you did well. After that, turn your attentions to the possible lessons you can learn. Never categorize a failure as you... it's just an event not you.

 

Instead, learn and grow from the things that did not work and realize that the fact that you tried your best is always enough. Also, the whole point of learning is to try again so that you can apply your new knowledge.

 

If you can practice to always see the best in yourself, it will clear your mind of unnecessary negative thoughts. Whenever your little voice starts getting down on you - just pause and tell it to STOP and then change your thoughts to be more positive. Learn to have positive conversations with yourself. Do it in your mind, in front of the mirror or out loud; whatever works best for you - just do it.

 

·         See the best in others

Just as you practice to see the best in you, do the same for others. When you consistently seek the best in others, you remain open to infinite possibilities. Never assume anything or allow your preconceptions to rule your choices. Take the proactive stance to purposely look for the best in others.

 

This does not mean that you are naive and that you turn a blind eye to people's shortcomings. It simply means that you spend most of your energy on the things that make them better people. Surely, you may know someone whom you think has no redeeming qualities; it is especially in these instances that this practice is important. In these cases you must look beyond a person's past, accept his/her present and project genuine hope for that person's future confident in the fact that this person still has the choice to change.

 

If you can truly think of it in this manner, you will always be able to see the best in others even when they do not see it in themselves.

 

Someone once asked Mother Teresa if she would attend an anti-war rally to which she humbly replied "No, but I would attend a peace rally." Now I am certainly no Mother Teresa; however, I am sure you can see the incredible power in changing your perception of a situation. It may be a mere play on words but how profound and impactful for your attitude.

 

·         Confess your own sins

Too often we spend way too much time confessing other people's sins and not our own. Other people's sins are none of your business; it is an area of concern that you cannot change. This is why it is vital that you focus on your sins so that you can change yourself. In fact, if you have any hope at all of influencing someone else to change, again, you have to first change yourself. Only through consistent work on yourself can you influence others to change.

 

The enemy within is at constant work telling you to blame the other guy when things go wrong. It will always lead you to believe it is someone else's fault causing you to expend your energy bashing others. Whenever you find this is happening, focus on what you might have done to create the situation and aim to do better next time.

 

Be accountable for your own sins – they are yours and unless you own them you will be unable to work on them. If you cannot work on your own sins, the enemy within will consistently get the best of you.

 

2.  The Enemy Without

The enemy without becomes much easier to manage once you are successfully managing the enemy within. You might consider someone an enemy if they've deliberately tried to hurt you or cause you ill will. You might also consider someone an enemy if they have expressed dislike for you or if you find yourself in a constant battle or tug of war with this person.

 

The first thing to accept in these instances is that these individuals will appear to you in the way you see them. Your perception governs your thoughts and actions towards this person. Even if it is true that this person wishes you harm, changing your perception of this person can remove the enemy mentality from the picture.

 

Again, it's not about naivety, it's about how you view the person. It is about what you choose to focus on about this individual whether they can see what you see or not. How you choose to view someone does not negate your choice of how you relate to them; it simply opens up more possibilities for positive exchanges.

 

Improving upon the following 5 elements will undoubtedly have a profound and positive impact on your success in managing the enemy without.

 

·         Make no assumptions

Although it easy to do, it is important that you make no assumptions about someone. Be proactive and assess a person for yourself. Whether from a distance or close up, it is important that you evaluate a person from your point of view. Even when you have credible sources of information, these should only serve as references to help improve upon your own observations. Often times you will find that what works or is true in one instance is completely different in another.

 

If you make assumptions, you automatically close yourself off to any other possibilities. Remember that the other person may also be making assumptions about you so be different. Go in with an open mind and a genuine intent to learn and you will find other people far more accommodating and cordial.

 

·         Seek Understanding

It is definitely true that we often fear what we don't understand. Instead of embracing our differences, we put them down. It is important that you seek first to understand others before asking the same in return.

 

If you genuinely want to understand someone else, he/she will recognize and hold you in high regard for that. Just think of what it feels like to you whenever you feel that you've been understood. Now seek to convey the same to others.

 

If you can practice this you will discover that people are much more receptive to your position.

 

·         Embrace differences

The very things that make us unique are the things that should bring us together and not drive us apart. We may all have different beliefs and ways of life; however, deep down we are all the same. We all seek acceptance, appreciation and approval. When you can truly embrace the differences between you and others, you will immediately open dialogue, exchange of ideas rather than conflict and rivalry.

 

Our differences are to be cherished not feared. We can learn a whole lot more from each other by simply opening our minds to our greatness. We all have within us a universe of greatness waiting to be unleashed. The more we encourage it, the more fruitful and positive our relationships.

 

If you can truly cherish the differences in others, your pool of enemies will quickly shrink while your pool of allies quickly grows.

 

·         No protraction

Any protracted negativity will only escalate animosity and corrosive behaviors. Do not prolong negative exchanges; instead try to put things in a positive frame. Even when the truth hurts, it goes over much better if you can frame it positively.

I am not saying you should sugar-coat or offer fluff - I am simply saying use sensitivity when delivering tough messages.

 

Do not engage in “tit for tat” shenanigans; these equate to taking a reactive stance. Instead, take a proactive stance and address the root problem. Look for win/win solutions; if for some reason you are unable to reach a consensus then your best move is to walk away. This way, although you won't be playing together in the same sandbox, you will still both be happy that you both have your own sandboxes without fear the other will drop a bomb on it. 
  

·         Offer Friendship

Sometimes the easiest way to lose an enemy is to gain a friend. There is no reason you can't turn an enemy into a friend by simply offering friendship.

 

It won't necessarily always work and not every situation would warrant such a move; however, in the event that it does - just offer friendship. A good friend is better than a bad enemy any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

 

It may be as simple as asking, "Can we be friends?" The answer may shock you.

 

Now, do not misconstrue this as a mere holier than thou attempt to rid the world of conflict and usher in world peace; although, it’s not a bad idea.

 

This is simply a guide to building more bridges than walls among each other. The undeniable truth is that it takes way more energy to keep enemies than friends. When you have more enemies, you have to expend more time, energy and resources watching your ass – I mean six.   

Conversely, when you have more friends, you have a willing army watching your rear already so you don’t even have to focus on it. With more friends, you expend way less energy, time and resources on negative crap and instead focus on things that create and distribute more value.

 

If you still believe that enemies are necessary, consider this…

 

No matter whom you are or your station in life, true success cannot be achieved alone. Without others, true success and maximum potential cannot be realized. If your world is full of enemies, whom will help you and how will you ever achieve success?

 

Ponder but a moment and realize the infinite possibilities of having friends.

 

See you in the winner’s circle. 
 

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How to Overcome Stagnation

Ever feel stuck – like you’re going nowhere in life? Ever felt like everyone and everything is just passing you by? Does it make you feel powerless? 

Many, if not all, of us have had this feeling at some point in our lives; this is often referred to as Stagnation. It is what happens when you reach a point in your life where you feel unsure of what you want to do and where you want to go. As a result, you don’t move at all – neither backwards nor forwards. Needless to say, this can be quite frustrating and dejecting. 

The BIG question is what you do about it when it happens. How do you overcome Stagnation? 

If you’ve ever felt stuck, this article will help to raise your awareness to the symptoms and provide some valuable insights of how you can beat this success-debilitating disease.

 

Symptoms of stagnation

• Lack of focus – this is one of the first conditions that strike when stagnation sets in; you lose your center and begin to feel scattered in your thoughts. You no longer have a grasp of what you are doing or where you are going; your goal seems far away and blurry. 

• Indecisiveness – with lack of focus there is always indecision and confusion; every choice seems way too risky or impossible. You are unable to make good decisions because you don’t even know what your target is.

• Doubt – this is a major roadblock in any success plan; when you lack belief, it’s very difficult to achieve the results you desire. If you do not possess the confidence to move forward, you will be unable to accomplish your goals. Doubt can easily paralyze you.

• Hopelessness – where there is doubt, soon follows the lack of hope for the future. Stagnation demands that you are devoid of all hope of success – no aspiration for something greater than yourself. 

• Cynicism – all these symptoms breed negativity in a BIG way. When you are stagnant, it is easy to start believing that good things only happen to certain people but not to you. It also makes you skeptical of everyone else’s success; it makes you feel like only the lucky ones get the prize but poor saps like you get royally screwed by everyone and everything.

• Depression – ultimately, once you’re experiencing all the above, you tend to be down way more often than you’re up. You lack the energy and the desire to do anything progressive. Depression makes you feel like you don’t even want to bother trying. This is the ultimate success killer and it can really take you down if you are unaware of its presence. It can happen in mini bouts; these are the ones you have to be very careful of. 

You may see these symptoms categorized differently but these are basically the 6 major ones to be aware of. Once you understand the symptoms of stagnation, it will be easier for you to recognize when it is happening to you. This way, you can put a stop to it sooner rather than later – or before it is too late. 

How about a cure for this terrible affliction? 

My experience is that there are basically 5 ways you can overcome stagnation. Any one or a combination of these valuable practices will help alleviate your stuck-ness.

 

1.    Re-evaluate your core values

When stagnation sets in, one of the first things you should do is make sure that your core values are in tact. This is a good time to review your principles – the way you live your life. Make sure that the values you live by are still the ones you want to continue living by. 

More importantly, make sure that you have been living a life that is in line with your core values. More often than not, your core values are in good shape; however, the way you have been living may have fallen out of line. 

Be honest with yourself; look hard at the choices that you’ve made. Remember that you have what you have and you are where you are because of the choices that you’ve made. The reason to study this is to pinpoint those choices that were made without consulting your blueprint – your core values. 

We’ve all made decisions like this one – I know I have. It is usually the emotional and impulsive decisions. The point of this exercise is to understand that you made these choices and that you can live with the consequences. Furthermore, you can learn from the outcome of those choices. That is why we make mistakes – so we can learn and grow from them. 

The fact is that if you make it a point to re-evaluate your core values from time to time; you can possibly ward off stagnation all together.

 

2.  Redefine your mission

Another step to overcoming stagnation is to redefine your mission. Often times we hit roadblocks because we lose sight of the goal. Somewhere along the way to the target, we fall off track. This is perfectly normal – you can’t predict every occurrence; however, you can be prepared for anything by being proactive. 

Review your mission to make sure that it is still what you want to achieve. Make sure that your intent is in line with that mission. Sometimes our intent changes on the journey; something else becomes more important than the mission you started out to accomplish. That is also ok – just make sure that your mission still lights a fire in your belly. 

Your mission defines the goal and drives the actions you must take to achieve it. If this is not crystal clear then your actions will be equally muddled. It will be difficult for you to achieve the results you desire if you are not absolutely certain about your intent.

 

3.  Change your mission

If you attempt to redefine your mission and find that it is no longer what you desire; perhaps it’s time to consider changing it. This is often difficult for people to do because they view it as starting over. 

The main thing to realize in this case is that changing your mission is moving forward and not backward. Whenever you move on to something new and especially if it’s better – this is making progress. Sometimes in order to achieve our goals, we have to completely change our mission. 

This goes back to the scenario of something else becoming more important than the mission you initially set out to accomplish. Remember that sometimes, it takes one road to lead you to the road of your true purpose. It’s ok for one mission to run its course in your life so that you can embark on a newer and greater challenge. 

There was a time in my life when all I wanted to be was a rapper/producer and I was heavily involved in the music industry. I truly loved what I was doing. After that I discovered my love for public speaking and ultimately creating this blog which led me to my true purpose in life. My mission has changed a few times; however, my ultimate goal has always been to help others grow; to find their voice. I have sought to do that in all my roles thus far and this is what I truly enjoy. 

I hope that made the point for you.

 

4.  Change your circle

Many times, the people we choose to hang out with is the reason we feel held back; causing stagnation in our lives. This is definitely a hard one; however, sometimes you just have to change your circle. 

In some cases it could simply mean that you change the way you interact with someone. In others, though it may seem harsh, it may be time to end the relationship all together. This is especially difficult when you truly like or love someone. My experience is that although this is hard, when the choice is made for the right reasons with the right intent, it has always been worth it. 

I have been here a couple of times so I appreciate the emotional difficulty of this situation – I truly empathize. 

The point is that there are times in our lives when our friends are not moving in the same direction we are and in order to achieve our goals, we simply have to go our own way. Stagnation often envelops the people you are most often with. If your choices are often tied to your circle, make sure your circle is aligned with your true desires otherwise you will have to move on at some point if you want to cure your stagnation.

 

5.  Take a different route

Detour ahead… sometimes it is as simple as taking that left turn at Albuquerque. (If you didn’t get that… go watch Bugs Bunny) 

Sometimes the cure for stagnation is simply to go in a different direction. Perhaps the way you’ve been going has too many roadblocks and you may just need to turn left instead of right. Many times, this opens up new avenues of pursuit that propel you to your goal. 

There is no rule that says you can’t change route mid-stride; it is your journey and you can get to your destination any way you choose. The path of least resistance is always best, just ask Deepak Chopra. 

The point is when life throws you a curve; you should take it because if you keep going straight you’ll probably crash into something solid like a brick wall. 

Seriously, don’t be afraid to change directions; another route may be the thing you need to get you out of the mud. 

Now that you know the cure… what are you going to do about it?

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How to Increase Your Personal Power

Personal Power; we all have it whether we realize it or not. Those who are keenly aware of it and understand its purpose utilize and grow it consistently. Highly effective individuals possess a zealous sense of their personal power. Those who are unaware of it and whom do not understand its purpose consistently give away or allow others to rob them of their personal power. 

My experience has been that the more in tuned you are with your Personal Power, the more pristine your clarity and the more effective and impactful the results you achieve. The goal of this article is to raise your awareness and increase your understanding of your own Personal Power and what it means to your success.

 

What is Personal Power?

First, let’s define what we are talking about.

Personal Power is the ability to master your fate by choosing to lead and direct your life from the inside-out. In this vein, your value system is your compass by which you move; while people and circumstances may influence you, only your choices based on the set of principles that you live by determine your actions.

 

Develop Keen Self-awareness

In order to fully exercise your personal power, you must first seek to increase your self-awareness. You must know thy self. If you do not know yourself – what makes you tick; it will be difficult for you to increase your power. Knowing who you are and what you stand for are crucial elements to succeeding in this area. 

Following is a mini-guide to help you better understand what I’m driving at when I say seek self-awareness. 

• Develop a Personal Mission Statement – this basically means that you work on outlining your purpose in life. What are your unique abilities that you will utilize to add value to the people around you – to the world? How do you create and distribute value through your true gifts and talents? 

• Lean on your strengths – all of us have certain qualities and abilities where we excel. These are the characteristics we display most often and/or the abilities that cause us to stand apart from most. It is important that you hone in on these qualities and abilities and use them to enhance your journey and your growth, thereby increasing your personal power. 

• Admit and work on your shortcomings – many individuals cannot admit let alone endeavor to work on their shortcomings. Do not waste your time making excuses for yourself or justifying your shortfalls. Instead, own them and seek new ways to improve upon them. Looking for ways to grow and change and improve yourself in any way already puts you light years ahead of the game in increasing your personal power.

• Let your core values guide you – especially at the times when you face tough choices, fall back on your core values. If your decisions are not in line with your core values, choose a path that is. The more you do this, the more your power and influence will increase because you are firm in your beliefs. If you simply knock about at the behest of the winds that blow, you will become wayward and misdirected. Your core values – your principles – are your compass by which you should make all decisions. 

• Do what is true for you – this is so powerful; the best way to be at peace with your decisions is by first accepting the consequences of your choices. As long as you do what is right and true for you, learn to live with the consequences. If you can do this more often than not, you will experience a profound and positive shift in your personal power. All choices come with a consequence – positive or negative. If your values are grounded in correct principles, you should see way more positive than negative consequences.

 

Dispel the illusion of complete control

Many individuals often believe that they are in complete control of every circumstance and even the people in their lives. Even when they say that they don’t believe that, they often act like it. I know I have. 

C’mon, admit it – there is a control freak somewhere inside of you and you know it. The fact is though that we are not in complete control of all that is in our private world. In fact, we only have control over one thing and one thing only – ourselves. 

That’s right; you can only control you. The way you affect changes is to first work on yourself and you affect others and circumstances as your influence grows. Once you begin to understand this concept, your mind opens up to new possibilities. You have to realize that different things move people; there are many choices at play all around you. You must learn to simply focus on your choices and your actions; this is how you increase your personal power and influence. 

If you focus on controlling other people and circumstances, it tends to be easier for you to lose control of the one thing that you actually control – YOU. What we do have is the power to influence other people and circumstances through the choices we make. When you understand the principle, you can quickly see that your main goal is to focus on your personal growth in order to increase your circle of influence. 

Complete control is an illusion – forget about it. Just focus on controlling you and your circle of influence will grow to the degree that you grow personally.

 

Focus on what you can change and influence

What you can change are you, your circumstance and thus your station in life. These are the things that you can choose to act on and make changes. Your personal power grows each time you achieve success in one of these three areas of growth. 

What you can influence are the people and circumstances around you. Essentially, focusing on changing yourself and circumstances first will automatically expand your range of influence. The more successful you are at improving yourself, the more influence you will command.

First seek to improve your personal growth and achieve your goals. With a clear picture of your desires in mind, act on helping others through your gifts and talents to find what they truly desire. If you can create and distribute value through what you do and as you grow, your personal power will increase. 

The point is to make you aware that spending energy on things that merely concern you is a waste of time. Things that only concern you are usually the things that you cannot change and/or over which you have no influence. It is ok to have concerns as long as they do not drive your actions. If your concerns are driving your choices, it will impede your growth and hamper your personal power. 

The fact is that the more you concentrate and changing yourself and influencing the people and circumstances around you, the more your personal power will increase. Also, when your power increases, things that once existed in your circle of concern will begin falling into your circle of influence where you can effectively affect them. 

If you find this the least bit confusing, think of it this way… 

You are the catalyst in all things you desire to achieve. If you can focus on your own growth, your area of influence will grow much more quickly and you will be able to affect change in areas you once could not. Real change occurs from the inside-out and your personal power grows in the same way.

 

Stand on your core values

To stand on anything other than your core values is like standing in quicksand. You will eventually sink. 

This does not mean that you do not value others’ points of view; it simply means that you make your choices based on whether or not they align with your core values. If what someone else believes is not in line with your core values then my recommendation is that you do not follow. 

The hardest thing to do is to stand on your core values when the odds are against you. This is also the time that it matters most; when it seems you stand alone. The truth is that you are never alone when you have good core values to back you up. It may hurt to do it sometimes in the short run; however, my experience is that the pain has always been worth it in the long run. 

Your core values – your principles – are the compass that guides you. These are what help you to make good decisions. They can easily clear up confusion because they are (or should be) clearly defined. 

Your core values are the blueprint to how you live and how you make your choices. When the chips are down, this is where you should be looking before you make tough choices. This way, no matter what happens, you are able to look in the mirror and smile back at yourself knowing that you made the right decision. 

While others may influence you and have a positive impact on your life – your choices are based on your core values. If you are unsure about what your core values are, my recommendation would be to take some time to figure that out. You may start here with this article.

 

Empower others to increase their personal power

As Stephen R. Covey puts it “Help others to find their voice.” 

One of the most effective ways to increase your personal power is to help others increase theirs. This means that you share your knowledge and experience with others. 

There are so many individuals searching for a new way – a new beginning – and an empowering word or two from you might be the difference they’ve been waiting for. To keep your knowledge and experience to yourself is not only selfish but also self-defeating. You learn so much more when you share what you know and furthermore, you open up space for more knowledge to enter. 

The more you teach, the more you learn; the more you share, the more you grow. The more you grow, the more your personal power increases. This also goes back the expansion of your range of influence. Think about the ripple effect of having a positive impact on just one human being if each person only shared with one other person. Your circle of influence increase more than 1,000 fold each time you share your knowledge and experience with someone else. 

When you help others to find their voice, you ultimately find yours. It is a natural law – a universal principle. 

Remember that the more you can increase your personal power, the greater the impact you can make on the world. The difference we make while we are here is the legacy we leave behind for the next generation. 

What do you want yours to be? 

 

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Discover successful habits that allow you to discover, master and unleash your remarkable untapped human potential through the Powerful Principles of Personal Growth Newsletter.