Motivation Plaza: March 2008

27 March 2008
Abundance and Prosperity - 2 Prerequisites to Getting Them Both

By Alvin Day

Abundance and prosperity can only be attained when two crucial requirements are met.
Though they often seem to be elusive, abundance and prosperity can only evade those people who do not see and believe in the success they have not yet experienced.
The ability to see yourself living with great abundance and prosperity long before it actually happens is step one in the acquisition of both goals.
There are two ways to fulfill this requirement; they are most powerful when practiced together.
The first way is to recognize the abundance and prosperity that already exists in your life. If you see yourself as a person who lacks something, then you will always be a person who lacks that thing - you must change this pattern.
You can break this pattern by envisioning a future where you have what you want.
When people devote time to picturing themselves in the life they want, it shapes their self-image and allows them to fulfill the second requirement in their quest - believing.
The importance of believing in your ability to acquire abundance and prosperity cannot be ignored. As you begin a path towards your greatest desire you will likely find the road is filled with obstacles.
Few people will achieve their highest goals without let downs, failures and disappointments.
The major difference between people who reach their goals and attain the abundance and prosperity they seek, and those who don't, typically lies in the number of attempts they make towards reaching those goals.
If you believe that your success has already been determined, stops along the road can only be temporary. If you are unsure of your ability to reach your goals, a few failed attempts will serve as proof that you should quit.
With an unwavering faith in your ability to attain a life of abundance and prosperity, you will be fueled to continue on your path to the goals you have promised yourself.
After 27 years leading Fortune 500 companies to earn millions of dollars, Alvin Day now simplifies the success principles to help Godly people achieve and prosper in business and job. Get his free eBook, Ask and You Shall Receive - visit this website: http://www.alvinday4free.com/ebook

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---------------oOo--------------- Motivation Techniques - Do They Work?

By Alvin Day

Motivation techniques sometimes get a bad reputation. You have probably heard people refer to them as techniques that only work for a few minutes, after which, people go back to their original ways of living.
Sometimes that is true, but quite often it is in just a few short minutes that we make decisions that have a huge impact on our lives.
Take, for example, that great business idea you have. You are smart and capable and you have discovered a need in an area where many potential customers exist.
All that stands between you and great success is the few hours you must spend working on the project each day after work.
You put in a full day at the office, come home with the best of intentions but, after realizing your cat has created a mess on the floor, having an argument with your spouse or just getting through the chores that need your attention, you change your mind and decide not to work on the project tonight.
Can you see how, in just a few minutes you make a decision that changes your life?
A quick, but effective, motivation technique can be perfect to use in situations like this. Even though the effects may actually be temporary, in this instance; you probably would not need anything more.
Take the above example, when you get home and are sidetracked, you make a decision to abandon the work you need to do to make your brilliant idea a reality.
What if, instead of giving in to the impulse to quit, you asked yourself the following question, "Am I strong minded?" What if you kept asking that question until the answer was, "Yes?" Wouldn't it be almost impossible to ignore the project at hand?
By the time the effect of the question wears off, you will most likely be so deeply engrossed in your project that you will be able to work for hours.
Decisions happen in an instant. Armed with the right techniques, you can aid yourself and your future by making decisions that empower you.
After 27 years leading Fortune 500 companies to earn millions of dollars, Alvin Day now simplifies the success principles to help Godly people achieve and prosper in business and job. Get his free eBook, Ask and You Shall Receive - visit this website: http://www.AlvinDay4Free.com/ebook

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---------------oOo--------------- Self Motivation - Learning To Better Yourself

By Michael J

Self-motivation originates from many sources - the need or desire to achieve a personal goal, an emotional (and often life-changing) event such as divorce or death in the family, or even a true internal determination to "be the best you can be".
What emotion drives each human being to realize his or her goals is personal. What is self motivation for one person will not necessarily be motivational for another. While there are an infinite number of motivating factors, among some of the most common are recognition, influence, internal drives and profit, or personal material success. It all boils down to a person's motivational ability to embrace the emotion behind his personal goal.
The spark of self motivation is always personal. However, there are certain motivational methods that everyone can count on to ensure that they will achieve their personal goals. One of the primary methods of motivation is to make a commitment to yourself and your personal desire. Try writing down your goal, or sharing it with others - many people find that this keeps their motivation strong. Employ your emotions to keep yourself on track - this is key!
If you want to make sure you continue to focus on your personal goal, you need to try benchmarking. You'll find benchmarking to be a motivational tool in that you can see the progress you've made, which makes you want to continue making progress. A daily journal can also be a tool which helps you maintain momentum. By reading back over the entries and seeing how far you've come, your hope of reaching your ultimate goal becomes more of a reality.
Organizing and splitting your personal goals into smaller tasks or parts aids you in curbing your feeling as well as from being overwhelmed. For example,if your major personal goal is to reduce the debt you might focus on little things such as "reducing the grocery budget to 20$ a week" or "Tracking your receipts and review them regularly" these might help you in achieving your personal goal slowly but more steadily.
Perhaps the most important step in any personal journey is rewarding oneself for improvement and progress. This will ensure that the personal self motivation remains high. Any journey requiring self motivation is difficult - you are working toward change, which is difficult in itself. Use motivation concepts, such as celebrating the smallest successes. Just make sure your celebrations don't counter your goal - for example, if you are trying to lose weight, don't celebrate by having a slice of cake.
In the end, you need to give yourself a break. Do not let the wrong emotions cloud your judgment; do not be consumed with false expectations. Your initial efforts will not be your last or final efforts - you do not need to get it right the first time! Everyone, including you, is bound to slip now and again, but that doesn't mean failure. Remember - self motivation is yours and it's personal - and your goals will come to fruition in due time.
Michael Johnson explains motivation so that you can understand it quickly & easily. Learn the essential keys to effective motivation. To receive more information visit the self motivation website.

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---------------oOo--------------- Discovering Intrinsic Motivation

By Michael J

If you are like me, you probably have had at least one day where you were moving slow and felt sluggish. You want to pursue your business pursuits, but you feel a resistant emotion towards the idea. So, you drag yourself to your desk and start to work. The realization for your own skills and abilities becomes obvious to you again as you start to draw on you own source of inspiration. Your own inspiration starts to evolve to intrinsic motivation and this carries you to a successful conclusion.
Understanding Intrinsic Motivation
It would be nice to be able to draw on intrinsic motivation emotion on a daily basis. However, the fact remains that this is often not possible. This isn't of greatest concern to a lot of people. The truth of the matter is that there is no reason to be concerned over the lack of intrinsic motivation. A decrease in personal intrinsic motivation is something to look out for. It's not that big of a deal because activating it is relatively simple if you know the steps.
Developing Intrinsic Motivational Drive
We all suffer at times from a lack of intrinsic motivational drive. That being the case all one needs to do is simply take the steps necessary to activate one's own intrinsic motivation. Just like any undertaking of worth there will be some effort required. The amount of effort required to get back on track is a small amount compared to it's alternative. Changing ones habitual ways of observing or acting is usually all that is needed.
It's been commonly to referred to in motivational literature but it takes 21 days to form a new habit. This being the case then you should commit to spending three weeks of your life to cultivating the new habit of intrinsic motivation. If you make this commitment then you will be giving yourself the best gift possible. Your paradigm will determine if this idea works for you or doesn't.
Conclusion
Now that you know this simple explanation on intrinsic motivation, how will you use it? Other ways of activating your motivation can include but are not limited to listening to a popular motivational speaker, reading inspirational quotes and engaging in similar activities. All it takes is the effort to get started and you will soon find yourself in that familiar motivational state.
Michael Johnson discusses the self motivation so you can understand it. Learn how to enjoy self motivation. To receive more information visit the intrinsic motivation website.

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---------------oOo--------------- Discover How To Lead Your Life Like The Wealthy People Do

By Rob Windgo

Wealthy people lead a busy lifestyle full of excitement, speed and achieving more and more. This lifestyle is a result of how they lead their lives and make a balance between their personal and professional life. Their life is based on some principles that make them successful. Wealthy people know how to organise their work, schedule their time, make priorities to lead a balanced life and take care of their bodies by eating healthy and doing regular exercise.
If you want to lead your life like the wealthy people do, follow these principles:
* Believe in yourself. Believe that you can achieve more, do things better and that nothing will stop you from reaching your goals,
* Control your thoughts by being optimistic and focused. Take some time to discover yourself and relax,
* Acknowledge your success. Celebrate all the moments and activities that you have done well every day. Don't remember only what you have done wrong,
* Schedule your time for family activities. Create a balance in your life by reserving time for your family,
* Organize your work. Use technology available to you to do more in less time and don't go overtime in your professional life,
* Have a social life. Connecting with different people of your community will give you a better taste of life,
* Get Active. Do regular exercise sessions either in the gym or doing some kind of sport you like. Make it a family gathering by getting your kids and spouse to join you.
* Eat healthy foods. Controlling your diet can have a good impact in your overall health. Try to eat organic and include a lot of vegetables and fruits in your diet.
* Take some time off to travel and discover other places.
Discover The Ultimate Guide To Your Financial Freedom. Request Your Free Guide Now

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---------------oOo---------------
22 March 2008
Get Up, Get Going, Get Ahead

By Medha Karandikar

Sometimes it seems like our butt is glued to the spot. It happens mostly in the winter months, but thankfully those are almost over now, Spring is here.
Everything is blooming and moving. The warm weather, the chirping of the birds in the morning and the bursting forth of daffodils tells us to GET UP!
So get up from your bed, your chair, your computer
Get out of that couch and get rid of that remote.
Hang up the phone. Get away from that break room table, or that armchair. There are things to be done.
Often we can see what we need to do, we dream about what we want to do, we make lists, plans and projects, but nothing gets done. WHY? Because we are static, sitting, stationary.
We need to GET UP.
Ok you got up from your bed, got out of your chair, and got away from the computer.
Now what?
GET GOING.
Just move in some direction, any direction. The muscles of the body need exercise, and exercise of the body sets the mind in the right direction as well. Just twenty five minutes of movement, whether stretching, walking, yoga or any other activity, gets the circulation going and the juices flowing. The mind begins to work as the body begins to move, and you get ideas about how to put your plans in action; and since your body, your arms, your legs are already in motion, there is no inertia to overcome.
You wanted to write that article? Here, grab a pen and paper and start.
You wanted to clean that bathroom? Then get all the scrubbing supplies and get down to it.
You wanted to go to the bank, the post office, the library, the beauty salon, the hardware store, the farmers' market, but it all seemed like too much from the cushions of your couch? Not so when you are on your feet and dressed and ready.
Whether you have some place to go or not, it always helps to be ready to go first thing in the morning. Showered, dressed and ready.
That usually takes care of the biggest stumbling block to getting chores done outside the house, and always puts you in an energetic and efficient frame of mind.
When I was a full time housewife and mother, I always wanted to do something other than the routine and housework and cooking. Something that would lift my spirit and feed my creative urge.
But a homemaker's work is never done, because she is right there 24/7, and there is always a chore or a task that begs for her attention. Each time I thought about sitting down to my writing or painting, I found myself doing the dishes or laundry first. Then there would be neither the time nor the energy to pick up pencil or brush. I needed to get away from the kitchen sink and the laundry room but couldn't physically do so as I had no outside office or studio.
I found a way around that. Each day at 9 am I dropped my toddler to the day-care and went back to pick her up at noon. If I pretended that I was reporting to work at an office where I was expected to turn in a piece of writing or art every day within those three hours, I could meet that deadline almost daily. In the three hours that she laughed and played with kids her age, I lost myself in developing the ideas and sketches that swirled in my mind.
When I got home to My Three Hours, I resisted the urge to change into comfortable home wear, and shut the door to the kitchen. This wasn't even freelance yet, but it had to be treated as professional. I had set aside a writing table in the spare bedroom, and I called it my office/studio.
For the next three hours I fiercely focused my mind. Beautiful things were created, poems, sketches, features or just plain ideas which could be developed later. I even submitted some of those pieces to the local newspaper.
You have to Get Going to Get Somewhere.
Now that you have got out, got going, what do you do and where do you go?
GET AHEAD.
Get ahead, every day. Build on what you have already done.
This article is not about getting ahead in the office, politics or the rat race.
This is about getting ahead in your life every day, in every way.
For each one of us Getting Ahead means something different. To the owner of a business, it is the bottom line, to a baby, it is his first step. To a student, it is upping a grade; to the homemaker it is running a household efficiently.
Once you have got moving, you try to race yourself to the finish line. There should always be a deadline to whatever you are doing. The Ultimate Inspiration is indeed the Deadline.
If you make a demand on your own energy and time, you will find that tasks get accomplished faster and better.
When you have met one deadline, you will start looking for another.
There is no pleasure like the completion of a project, however small, within the deadline set by you or by others.
"Move Forward! Get Ahead!" It's easy to say, and hard to do. But when it is broken into smaller tasks and challenges, it does not seem daunting.
Every day you have to set yourself a little goal, a little challenge. Making a To Do list every morning is the simplest form of this exercise.
To give my own example, I write a list of what I need to do and what I want to do. Of course the 'NEED TO'S" get done first. Then the WANT TO's come in line.
Every day I need to get up and go to work, look after the basic upkeep of my home, cook and clean. However there are many things I want to do too.
I may want to finish a painting, develop a sketch, write an outline, finish an article, make a mind map for a future project or organize my office, put away my art supplies, make those important phone calls, keep in touch with family and friends, Read That Book.
To me Getting Ahead is as simple as doing more than what I needed to do, doing at least two to three things from my Want To list.
Each one of us has a subconscious set of challenges and goals. Each one of us has a NEED TO and WANT TO list. Striking off all the daily Need To's, and accomplishing at least two to three of the Want To's makes one look forward to another day when we can Get Up, Get Going and Get Ahead!!
A self taught artist, Medha Karandikar views and observes the things, people and happenings around her and pens her thoughts. Visit her website at http://www.medhaonline.com and her blog at http://www.medhaonlinetoday.blogspot.com

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---------------oOo--------------- Take Action - Seize the Moment

By Richard Rizza

Most people whine about the things they don't have and do little to even determine what it is that they want. They just whine about what they don't want. This type of negative exercise is counter-productive and leads only to more whining.
Discovering what you want from life or what kind of life you want to have requires that you take action and seize the moment. What moment, the moment you decide to open your mouth and whine about the things you don't have but want.
Take action and seize the moment, instead of buying a new dress or pair of shoes spend some time with you and determine what it is that you want from life and make a step today toward achieving it. If you need a better job be a better employee. If you want to quit your job and start your own business, save some money and develop a business plan that is realistic. If your clothes don't fit because you have gained weight, exercise today, eat less today.
Maybe you didn't get that promotion because the boss knows that you smoke. Take action, seize the moment and buy the patch, chew the gum or get the shot. If you don't succeed the first time, try again and again until you are a non-smoker. Earned satisfaction will renew your desires and you can develop a more can do attitude.
Even successful people have areas in their lives where they need to take action, seize the moment and drop another bad habit or relationship. We all struggle with something that hampers our productivity. Each of us has an issue that requires us to take action and seize the moments we have let get away.
The truth is the moments we have not been seizing are missed opportunities. The un-seized moments are burst of energy smacked down with self-doubt. First develop a can do attitude then look at your issue on paper with solutions and methods, take action and seize the moment.
Stop being your own victim! Take action on the biggest most damaging problem you have and decide to formulate a plan in writing to solve it. The first step in solving a problem or issue is confronting the problem or issue. Take ownership of the things that you like about yourself and your life and take responsibility for the areas of your life where you can improve.
Very often taking action will force a change that is initially uncomfortable, comfort your self with the knowledge that your life will be better as a result of your sacrifice and determination. Change is not easy, but every time you resolve to have a better life by starting your own business or self-improvement instruction you will be rewarded with satisfaction.
Satisfaction is extremely gratifying and energizing. There is nothing like coming off of a victory to create momentum to jump over your next hurdle. Taking action doesn't always have to be so obvious. Subtle changes in your attitude toward a more balanced and positive lifestyle will greatly enhance your chances of achieving your desired objectives.
Life experience has shown us that life can be harsh and unfair sometimes in the same day, week and month. The better prepared each individual is to address unforeseen issues significantly improves his or her prospects for success. Take action and seize the moment, even the moments that challenge you. Success comes to the battle harden, if you think you will never get bloody because you have taken action you are wrong. Seizing the moment sometimes means get ready because you are going to take a hit. Only the strong survive, so be strong, develop strength. Identify the areas where you are weak and where you are strong and make adjustments. Identifying your weaknesses and making them stronger are not always possible initially and it's important to understand that. It's all in the planning, preparation and execution.
Take action instead of complaining. In fact don't say anything negative and think about how much you complain about is within your power to change. Seize the moment you think about the things in your life you dislike or make you unhappy or even down right miserable and do something about.
Richard Rizza is a Home Business Development Expert and Professional Marketing Consultant. He is a top income earner in the Home Business industry. To learn insider secrets and powerful marketing strategies from the pros to help you explode your home business empire, sign up for Richard's FREE cutting edge Ezine go to http://thedirectsalesinsider.com, to learn more.
To contact Richard directly go to his personal website http://www.richardrizza.com, there you will also have access to his Blog, subscribe to his blogs RSS feeds today.

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---------------oOo--------------- Employee Motivation Techniques - How to Fire Up Your Employees' Motivation

By Michael Lee

If you know how to motivate employees, your company's overall status and profits will improve as a result. Employees are the lifeblood of the company. It's therefore vital to use effective employee motivation techniques so they can stay happy and inspired with their work. This, in turn, will also make them more productive.
Here are 3 employee motivation techniques you can use to arouse their enthusiasm:
1) Be interested in them.
Know their personal background, where they went to school, any job experiences they had, their hobbies, their future plans... even the minor things like what movies or books they prefer.
This shows that you're willing to take the time to know more about them. People like to talk about themselves, so what you're doing is satisfying their ego. In the process, they will get to like you.
2) Give them exciting opportunities and reward them for their accomplishments.
As much as possible, give them job assignments that they're either good at, are interested in, or can have fun with.
Give them every opportunity to prove how good they are. And once they've proven their worth or even exceed your expectations, acknowledge them. Praise them in public; let them and other employees know what exactly made them outstanding.
This employee motivation technique will inspire others to do their best because they want to attain the same recognition!
Aside from thanking them, you can give gifts or awards that they can treasure and show to others. Awards such as certificates, medals or trophies would be a better choice as these items illustrate their achievement.
3) Be trustworthy and respectable.
If you said you're going to do something for them, fulfill it at all cost. Nothing can ruin their trust and respect for you more than broken promises and empty words.
Show them that you're someone who will listen to their concerns, and someone who is trustworthy enough to keep private matters confidential.
Be someone who they can look up to. This means you have to be a good example for them. Strictly follow the company's rules and perform your job in the most ethical manner possible.
Let's recap the 3 employee motivation techniques I've taught. First, be interested in your employees. Second, give them exciting opportunities and reward them for their achievements. Last, be a trustworthy and respectable employer or superior. Apply these employee motivation techniques, and you'll see a tremendous improvement in your company's productivity and work environment.
If you can inspire and influence employees to become madly in love with their work, how much will your profits multiply? Double? Triple? Quadruple? Discover employee motivation and persuasion techniques that can easily get employees to do a fantastic job at http://www.20daypersuasion.com

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---------------oOo--------------- How To Stop Procrastinating

By Kevin Sinclair

Everyone, including you, has a tendency to procrastinate. So what exactly is procrastination? Simply put, it is when you put off something that can be done now because of laziness or carelessness. Procrastination is putting off things for another day, when it is just as easy to do them today. Many people have a tendency to put off things and then end up doing them at the very last minute or not doing them at all.
Procrastination is extremely common in students who need to complete a research project, complete a term paper or even study for an upcoming test. This is generally when the term "cram" comes into play. In order to get a good grade on the test, the student must "cram" for the exam in a short period of time, versus studying and planning for the test all along.
So why Procrastinate?
Almost everyone, at one time or another in their life, deals with procrastination. For some people, they make it a way of life or a bad habit. For others, they may only allow procrastination to affect certain areas of their life, but not their daily events. For whatever reason, people often put off things they don't want to deal with at the time.
Some reasons you procrastinate are:
One of the most common reasons people procrastinate is because they are afraid. Although no one likes to admit they are afraid of something, fear often hinders people from attempting to do things, therefore, they put them off. Whether you are afraid of succeeding or afraid of failing, it is all fear.
Another reason for procrastination is because you may not feel like it is important enough. If your task is not given a high enough priority in the beginning, then you will have a tendency to put it off. You may very well know that the task needs completed, but you simply put it off because you find other things that are more important.
You don't have the means to complete the task. In some instances, you may not have everything on hand to complete the task; therefore, you put it off. This may be the result of your inability to do all of the research and collect the needed data or you just don't feel like putting the time needed to finish the task.
Some other reasons people procrastinate are: you have not completely committed yourself to the project, you are extremely busy, you are lazy or you simply don't want to do it.
How to change the behavior:
Now that you have a better understanding of why you tend to procrastinate or did you procrastinate and decide to read that section later? You cannot expect that you will quit procrastinating if you do not have an understanding why you do it in the first place. Therefore, it is important to take a good look at why you put things off. This is the first step in learning how you can change this behavior.
Below are a few strategies that can help you to stop procrastinating. Not everyone will benefit from every tip. Therefore, be sure to try a variety of different steps until you find one that works well for you.
Create a list. If you create a list of all the reason you procrastinate and how you procrastinate, then you will be able to see that you are definitely putting things off. By creating a list of clues, you can then pinpoint your behavior and get a better grip on it.
Eliminate procrastination myths. "I work well under pressure." Once you begin to believe that you work best under pressure, then you are simply giving yourself permission to indeed procrastinate. "I cannot do this unless it is perfect." Keep in mind that achieving perfection is nearly impossible.
Break down the job. If you have a large job to do, you may believe you will never get it accomplished. Therefore, why even begin on the project? In order to overcome this mindset, you must break the jobs into smaller, more manageable tasks that you can accomplish.
Change your attitude. If you have a negative attitude, you are more likely to tell yourself that a task is disgusting, extremely difficult or you simply will not like doing it. It is simple mind over matter. If you believe that you can do something, then you truly can.
Ask for help. Many people believe that asking for help is a true sign of weakness. In reality, asking for help is a sign of strength. Knowing that you need help and obtaining the correct help, with make getting the job done a lot easier.
Some other tips include: Keep things that need to be done or accomplished in your line of vision. Keep to a strict schedule. Eliminate any distractions.
It is human nature to procrastinate. We all want to avoid things that are unpleasant, while seeking out things that leave us feeling good. Making a conscious effort to determine why you procrastinate will help you to change the behavior. Don't expect miracles though. Change will take time. Begin by taking baby steps and eventually, you will see dramatic results.
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of Be Successful News, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business.

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---------------oOo--------------- How To Conquer Adult Goals With Child-Like Behavior

By Ronnie Nijmeh

Remember when you were a child, and you received your first bicycle? Oh, how excited you were to climb on it and ride it as far as you could go, pedaling as hard as you possibly could, and showing all of your friends and schoolmates the shiny new love of your life! It didn't matter that you didn't know how to ride it immediately or that you did not own proper safety equipment. Your entire goal was to get on top of that bike and race the wind down the street. Sometimes, having just the burning desire is enough to motivate you to seek out the know-how and to practice riding until you are able do it all by yourself.
That burning desire, or passion, is an overwhelming emotion. It is that boundless enthusiasm we need to help us finish a task, begin a new project, conquer a fear, or to overcome a bad habit or addiction. It is the siren, or bugle, which leads us into battle.
If we can gather and preserve that childlike passion, we can accomplish anything. We can jump on that bike and start pedaling, and as we build the confidence and momentum, we can remove the training wheels and tackle the art of riding a bicycle. And by the turn of the next bend, we are riding that bike downhill towards the horizon with the wind behind us - without apprehension, concerns, or hindrances.
Although passion is a great motivator, it is often difficult to find and even harder to maintain. A good way of cultivating passion and retaining it in our sights is to seek out inspirational words and images. One powerful solution comes from free wallpapers with inspirational quotes. These vivid pictures with phenomenal, moving quotes can be the exact recharge we need for reviving passion and keeping it onboard. Furthermore, free inspirational desktop backgrounds can be a part of any workspace. Not only are these backgrounds pleasant to look at, but these free wallpapers with inspirational quotes are also excellent to share with family, friends, and team members.
We can all learn to jolt our heart's desires back to life. Just like that child on the bicycle revving to go, we can allow a supercharged passion to ignite us into action and launch us towards our target. And by implementing a little inspiration to our daily routine, to keep our passions fed, we can reach our scope and beyond.
Getting in touch with our inner child doesn't mean that we haven't grown as individuals. As adults, we sometimes forget the simplicity of life, and we lose focus on occasion. We usually ponder about how we can get things done and stop at that. Passion can get us back on that bicycle seat and remind us of what we are striving for and why. It is the fuse to our powder keg of abilities, ideas, hopes, and dreams, and we should employ our passion to ask the necessary questions for us.
The next time we are confronted with a challenge, we should think back to our first days on a bicycle and hone in on that child-like fervor. We should all lean our heads back into the wind with our arms stretched out beside us and enjoy the ride. How we get there will become less important.
Ronnie Nijmeh is the president and founder of ACQYR, a motivational website with free inspirational wallpaper, positive affirmations, motivational articles and much more. Visit now to download free inspirational wallpapers.

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17 March 2008
You Don't Know What You Are Missing Unit It Is Gone

By Z Bennett

That is a phrase that I have heard all my life in one form or another. Kind of like the phase if I could have I would have. There are many paths in this thing called life. Each of us is presented with many opportunities. Many of those opportunities we let go pass. Many of the ones that we should take advantage of we let go pass. While acting on the wrong ones. Here is the human part of the problem we as people have a bad habit of living in the past. The past is very important. The piece we miss is that we need to learn from the past. We need to use the pass as a tool for our future. There is a saying "Those who forget the past are forced to repeat it".
We keep looking at the things that happen in the world as if those things cannot and will never happen to us. The only time that we act is when we are scared. Fear is not the way to live your life. Living a life in fear is not living. There are hundreds of things in your life that you can control. Basic health you play a major part in this matter. However few people exercise. Taking care of your teeth most people worry about their teeth when they have a problem with them. How many people really know how to defense themselves? How many people have let alcohol take over their lives? Some to the point of been jailed for drinking and their lost of control. Learning is important now I am not just talking about learning from your mistakes but more from the mistakes of those before you.
History is full and over flowing with mishaps that each of us can all learn from. Each one has a beginning and an end. Each one as we all know has an outcome. A friend and teacher of mine always shares with me it is not the trip that is important. It is the journey that is important. What I would like to say is that life is full of possibilities. You have to be open to those possibilities in order to see and take advantage of them. I believe that there are hundreds of opportunities that present them to us. We need only to choose wisely from those that are presented.
There really is a lot of great knowledge in books. There is a life full of great new positive and wonderful things just outside your door and in the area that you live. You can find a new and exciting world around you just get off the couch turn off the TV and try a few. There is nothing wrong with watching a game, sport etc. You will get a lot more out of most things if you are actively doing it.
We can all change first we have to want to change. Then we have to choose to change. Then we have to act on that change and keep at it. Then you have to work at that change to make it happen. Again you don't know what you are missing until it is gone. Time is precious if you don't use it you lose it.
By Zurriane Bennett
San Yama Bushi & Combination GoJu
School of Self Defense
http://www.sybcg.com

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---------------oOo--------------- Keep Trying

By Daniel Belcher

What does it mean to keep trying? It means to not give up even in the face of challenges. Those challenges could be work, home, finances, friends, foes, physical limitation. The main thing in life is to keep trying or as one of my fellow church brothers would say "keep moving forward". This is what it means to keep trying.
We must develop a habit of staying on the track. I remember many years ago with i ran track, the focus was to stay in the race and stay on track. You may not start out as fast as the others in the race of life, but you must just keep trying, don't quit. We need to develop a habit of perseverance or as others have said "staying the course". Keeping those minds active will keep those legs moving along the course of life.
We can find our own satisfaction in trying, there is joy in the process. When we try, we feel good weather we succeed or not because we have given our best. The satisfaction is deep felt and personal in the heart of the man who has let it all on the track. He has no regrets because he gave it all. He sleeps well at night and looks forward to trying again tomorrow.
One of my fellow toastmaster member stated "this is it". When you look at life with that attitude you know there are no do overs. We must get all we can out of life each day and that means we keep trying. For example, if you are learning math keep trying, foreign language keep trying, studying with the children keep trying, marriage keep trying, exercise keep trying, I think we get the picture. The bottom line is, this is it, keep trying.
Finally, when it looks like you can't go on, look deep within yourself. You will be surprise to see that you can find the strength to keep on trying. Take lesson from the marines, their mental attitude is never stop trying and never give up. Remember in this life there are no do over. Keep trying, Keep trying, Keep trying.
I retired from United States Navy in 2003, after serving over 21 years of enlisted active duty onboard several different ships and a few shore assignments. I am married. My wife and i have two daughters. We have two dogs, Chow Chow's, to be exact. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts (Focus area Psychology) from Excelsior College class 2004.

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---------------oOo--------------- No Pain, No Gain?

By Michael Neill

Have you ever watched people suffer at the gym?
I remember one particular man who always reminded me of a medieval priest self-flagellating in punishment for his sins. Driving himself into his sixteenth set of 85 repetitions at a weight three times his own, he seemed to take a perverse pleasure in torturing his body on a daily basis. Every time I saw him, he was wearing a new knee brace or elbow brace or neck brace (at one point he showed up with his leg in a cast to work his upper body)!
The myth of "no pain, no gain" is pervasive in our society. Whether it manifests in your life at the gym, in the office, or in your relationships (!), most of us find ways of punishing ourselves for the best of all possible intentions - to help us to grow, and to motivate ourselves to become "better" people. The only problem is it doesn't work. Oh, it might work for an hour, a day, or even a month, but over time the pain fades and we find ourselves right back in the old pattern of behaviour. Or worse still, we punish ourselves, feel bad, and then eat cake and take drugs and do things we'll regret later in order to make the bad feelings we've just created go away....
Allow me to share my personal philosophy on the subject. I can sum it up in a simple phrase:
No Pain, no pain!
It's not that I believe pain must be avoided at all costs, or that we should give up on something we know we want to do as soon as it gets difficult. It's just that I've become aware that when we are pursuing our goals and living our dreams, some of what we do is painful, and some of it isn't. You don't get any extra points for suffering, unless you make up the rules of the game that way...
You can do today's experiment at home, or if you prefer, at the gym. I use the example of sit-ups, but any exercise from jogging to the bench press to yoga will do. As with all exercise, be sure you've taken expert advice, including your own, before attempting anything more strenuous than your usual routine...
1. Do a few sit-ups the way you would normally do them.
2. Stop, and do at least five sit-ups as punishment for all the fatty foods you've eaten in the past week.
3. Now, do at least five sit-ups as an act of self-love. Think about the amazing miracle that is your body, and if it's not too corny for you, thank your stomach muscles for keeping your torso strong. (If it is too corny for you, get over it! :-)
4. Notice which experience was more like your normal exercise experience. If you enjoyed the experience of exercise as an act of self-love, carry on with that attitude and marvel at the rewards your body will give you as your regular routine is infused with a new energy and awareness.
Have fun, learn heaps, be safe, and remember:
No pain, no pain!
Michael Neill is a licensed Master Trainer of NLP and has written over 550 articles in the areas of business success, money, relationships, health, happiness, well-being, and spirituality. His weekly coaching column is reprinted in newspapers and magazines throughout the world, and can be found online at http://www.geniuscatalyst.com

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---------------oOo--------------- Waiting For the Opportunity - A Lesson From Monet

By William DePaula

Every day is different -- not to mention every hour. The old complaint that we often have is that life is at a standstill. That promotion you wanted, the change that you wanted to happen, never seems to happen. You are waiting for something to happen, perhaps for your opportunity to fall in your lap. The thing is that, if you notice it or not, the world is changing, and changing constantly. If you have any doubt, just ask Claude Monet.
A book can be written on Monet. Well, several have been written. Here I will not attempt to dive deeply into all the different aspects of Monet's life and work. Monet is perhaps one of the most loved artists today. It wasn't always like that. He was often made fun of and insulted. At the time his art was considered a real insult to the critics and traditional artists.
The constant change that Claude noticed all had to do with the light. Claude was obsessed with light and color. He delighted on how the colors changed when the different hours of the day would create a different image, all depending on the light. This might seem a simple enough idea, but just look at how often we ignore our surroundings. Since we are born, we notice the light, the contrasts it makes, and the shadows it creates. We were thrilled with the light and the games it played. As we got older the contrasts and the shadows became less interesting because we grew accustomed to them. Next time you're around an infant watch where the baby looks. When not looking at a loved one, the infant will often look at the light and shadows.
So while we might ignore these changes once we grow older, Monet embraced them. When looking at Monet's body of work, and a large one it is, you notice that he painted the same scene over and over again. The location might have been the same, but what he painted each time was very different. Monet noticed how the light changed during the day and created different colors and shapes in otherwise the same exact location and place. His focus on nature, colors and shadows reminds us of the true beauty of the everyday we ignore. Perhaps this is why he is so loved and admired today.
Monet was constantly told how to paint and what subjects he should paint. The themes he was told to paint were basically patriotic and idealistic. He was to paint like the old masters, and he was enrolled in a studio in Paris. He was taught under Charles Gleyre, a known painter who taught and emphasized the traditional ways. If you did not paint like the old masters, you were not a real artist. If you challenged the rules, you would not get accepted by the Salon. The Salon, the big boys controlled the art world in France. This was the basic tone of art in France during Monet's early life.
Monet tried to listen to Charles for a short time, but his ideals conflicted too much with Charles' and the Salon as a whole. He was interested in nature and he wanted to paint outside. He left Gleyre's studio and decided to explore the outdoors himself. He looked around -- and I mean really looked around. He noticed that the trees were not really just green, but many different colors. He also concentrated on how the light changed the colors and the look of his surroundings. To further emphasize his vision he would often sit at the same location painting the same scene during different times of the day. It is when you look at these works side by side that you really learn to appreciate how dramatic the changes are when the light changes. After time, people understood the beauty of Monet's work. He was not interested in techniques but color and light.
I often have very little patience and find myself never being able to replicate what Monet had done -- to sit in a location and paint the same scene over and over, with the different lights. Maybe it is all that TV watching, and wanting to be entertained. It was very difficult for me to continue this project. When trying this I notice that Monet had to paint rather quickly, because of his rough, unfinished style. I tried to focus on the colors and the light. I once heard that squinting helps one see the true colors and not the colors that we might have in our head because of association. The world was a different place for me that day. I never noticed how much the light influenced our world. It's often something we ignore in our busy lives.
Monet can teach us many things, but one of the most important is how light is ever-changing. Light is what changes our world. So the next time you think nothing is going on or you're just waiting for something to happen, take a look around and really look. You will see that every hour has a new tale to tell. Just maybe then you will stop waiting, and take action in our ever-changing world.
William DePaula is an artist and writer. He writes on art, history, and how it relates to us today. Through his series "Behind the Painting", he learns about the artist, the artwork, the techniques used and what life was like during the creation of the masterpiece. His art and apparel can be viewed at http://www.artedepaula.com

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---------------oOo--------------- On Being Kind to Yourself

By Michael Neill

Where is the line between loving acceptance and overindulgence - in other words, how do you know when you need a hug as opposed to a kick up the butt?
I've been in and out of bed this week with a miserable summer cold, replete with fevers, chills, and enough tissues to keep the Kleenex Company in business for years to come. Each day, I have eavesdropped on the same debate in my head - do I push through my symptoms (it's all in the mind, you know!) and trust that I'll be fine, or do I listen to my symptoms, take it easy, and allow my body the time, space, and energy to heal?
My sense is that it is cultural, at least amongst us men folk, to see "being kind to ourselves" as roughly akin to dressing up in women's clothing and calling ourselves 'Nancy'. In fact, I remember an episode of a TV show I was in where the Welsh barman told my character that he wasn't going to be kind to himself because he was "a real man - broken and destroyed, but a real man nonetheless!"
This weekend, I decided to see what would happen if I went all the way with being kind to myself. Every time I was debating as to whether or not to do something, I asked myself "if I was being kind to myself, what would I choose to do?" My fear was that I would wind up doing nothing, and that my entire life would fall apart from inactivity, inertia, and atrophy. (Technically, this would probably take longer than a weekend, but I wasn't really thinking straight!).
What actually happened was this:
1. I taught a teleclass, performed in a sketch comedy show, helped my wife clear up the garden, set up the new sprinkler system, went for a walk with my kids, watched the football, napped frequently, and worked on my website.
2. I ignored most incoming. What I have discovered in those moments where I allowed myself to "be kind to myself" is that rather than it leading to my overindulging myself, it usually led to my getting up and doing something more quickly. Being kind to myself didn't mean I stayed in bed longer, just that I was more gentle in how I got myself out of bed.
In fact, writing today's tip is an example of my being kind to myself - because I know I'd feel even worse if I didn't! This is what my friend and colleague Michele Lisenbury Christensen calls "Snake Belly Productivity".
On those days where you feel "lower than a snake's belly", rather than attempting to steamroller over your mood as if it were 'business as usual', or giving in to the doldrums and doing nothing but channel surf while lying in bed, strip your day down to the bare essentials:
What will make you feel EVEN WORSE if it doesn't get done?
If today is one of THOSE days, try the following now. If not, write a sticky note that says "In case of horrible, snake belly type day, review 'On Being Kind to and place it on your computer or in your calendar or on your remote control where you'll actually SEE it on said horrible day.)
1. Take a deep breath. Acknowledge that you currently have access to very few resources (nerves, brain cells, smidgens of energy) with which to face the potential tasks of the day. You don't have to indulge that little voice that says, 'Go back to bed -you'll get nothing done at all today!' Just gently acknowledge that today is not going to be one of your shining memories of productivity and good cheer. So be it. Those days wouldn't stand out if it weren't for days like this!
2. Low days are no days for ambition. Just skip right over your would-have-been to do list and pare it down to ONLY those actions you MUST take before inaction would make you feel worse than you already do. If you can clear from your metaphorical plate those tasks that will, if left undone be your undoing, you win.
4. Squeeze out the determination, energy, and time required by these tasks. Do not ask yourself whether you feel like doing them. Just do them, get them over with, and go to bed!
Just for today, don't have fun. Don't learn heaps. Only get done what would otherwise turn a rotten day into a regrettable one. You have my permission to feel lousy, even in action. And isn't that just a little bit fun? :-)
Michael Neill is a licensed Master Trainer of NLP and has written over 550 articles in the areas of business success, money, relationships, health, happiness, well-being, and spirituality. His weekly coaching column is reprinted in newspapers and magazines throughout the world, and can be found online at http://www.geniuscatalyst.com

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---------------oOo---------------
11 March 2008
Direction - A Function Of Wisdom

By Nick Imoru

Wisdom is what makes stars in every field of endeavour. Every increase is a function of wisdom. If you don't know what to do with £100, how will it ever increase to £500? Insight-the ability to see ahead and plan for the future-is what guarantees increase. Beloved, do not eat your tomorrow today. Learn how to plan ahead no matter what you are having right now. That business in your hands can become an event in your country when you encounter the kind of wisdom we are talking about. You can emerge a worldwide star in your profession and career. You need wisdom for direction, the use of your mouth and a working knowledge of your given task.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gain understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profit of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honour - Proverbs 3: 13 - 16
Listen, wisdom demands that you learn how to plan ahead. However, you need wisdom for the use of your mouth. Do you know that the way some people talk, no matter how hard they work, they can't succeed; because they sow seeds of failure with their mouth?
A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth. From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. - Proverbs 18:20
Friends, what you say are as important as what God's says in the school of breaking limitations. This is because God is as committed to what you say as He is to what He says.
Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers... Isaiah 44: 26 ... He shall have whatsoever he saith. - Mark 11: 23
Therefore, wisdom demands that you learn how to speak correctly; otherwise, you will work and never see the results. Remember, all your inputs in life find conclusion in the mouth; whether they bring results or destroy what you have done. Stop saying what will destroy your dreamland. Stop saying what will not take you to your dreamland.
Another area where you need direction is; a working knowledge of your assignment in life. This can only come via information. Every successful person in the world today encountered one information or the other that brought about his success. For instance, one of the richest men in the world today named Richard Branson, was made by the power of information. Branson dropped out of school at the age of 19 and started business as a newspaper vendor. In the process, he stumbled on a little book entitled "small is beautiful". The information he gathered from that little book paved the way for his great height in business. Today Richard Branson is the owner of Virgin Airline and Virgin Train in Britain. He has twelve managers working in his establishment. And out of the twelve managers, nine of them fly their private jets (aircraft). Ah! Just imagine what the owner of the establishments will be commanding. Friends, information made him.
In the world of success, information is the greatest asset to your dreamland. Go for information at all cost. To be informed is to be transformed! We can't go any further than we are informed. It is an idea that begets a thought, a thought gives birth to acts, which in turn give birth to results. Friends! May I let you know, ideas rule the world. Information is vital!
Every candidate in an examination hall has an idea, but only those that have facts scale through to success. You don't pass examinations with ideas, but with facts. Likewise, you need facts about whatever you are doing to break that your limitations into success. No wonder, my Bishop - David oyedepo said
"It takes facts to become fat"
The bible says in Isaiah chapter 60 verse 1
Arise shine, for your LIGHT has come...
It is not your luck has come, but your light has come. So you need light - information, knowledge in whatever you are doing. Thus, only lazy men believe in luck. Men of worth believe in facts that make for success. Hear this! Instructions are the highways to distinction. Every act of God is initiated by men through compliance with His instructions.
For the Lord's portion is His people; ...He encircled him, He instructed him... ... He made him ride in the heights of the earth, - Deuteronomy 32: 9 - 14
Nick Imoru is a multi-gifted motivational speaker, author, educator, human resource consultant and an Engineer. He is the founder and director of Esteem Motivation, Inc - the umbrella of the highly successful COACH to Super Success Seminars/Workshops. A coaching program organised in different establishments, schools, universities, churches, etc throughout the world. He is also the writer and executive producer of Esteem Thoughts; a free widely-distributed motivational teaching going out to thousands of weekly subscribers on the topics of self improvement, spiritual growth, natural health, personal growth, relationships, mentorship, career success skills, and brain improvement. The central theme of his message is awakening the genius in humanity. To contact Nick or obtain information about Esteem Motivation, Inc., opportunities, speeches, seminars and the Coach to Super Success Program, visit Nick's website at http://www.esteemworld.com

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---------------oOo--------------- Why Not Try Out Hypnosis For Motivation?

By Shanat Kuphur

As in studies of psychology and neuropsychology, motivation is referred to a person getting engaged to a particular behavior, a human behavior to be more specified. The reason for a person engaging to a behavior can be as simple as the basic needs like food or a high profile multi level project, goals in life etc. according to Mr. Geen, motivation means the initiation, intensity, direction, persistence of one's behavior. Everyone needs motivation to achieve success and reach their goals to fulfill their dreams in life. Motivation just cannot be for one single reason or purpose and it is present or needed for the field of business, personal causes, sports, work, and much more.
There are a few concepts which increase motivation of a person. One of the best s to introduce motivation to a person is by giving him/her rewards. A reward is presented to a person after he or she does a certain work and when gifted by a reward, a person might get better at the performance to give better results and get motivated and become confident enough to do it again. A reward changes the attitude of a person working, gives a positive attitude towards the work. A study proves that if a person is rewarded as soon as he or she is done with a task, the effect is much better, and this will initiate a person to be more motivated and work much quicker. A reward for motivation can be characterized in two ways, one is the extrinsic and other one is the intrinsic. Extrinsic rewards are given in the form of money or some gifts. Intrinsic rewards are directly given to the person in the form of praises, satisfaction with work, accomplishment etc.
There are some ways in which you can increase the motivation for yourself or one can say that these are the rules one must follow for motivation. One is to set a goal with following the path, initially one must set mini goals that may lead to other paths or goals. When you are succeeding with the mini goals, you will surely get motivated and then you can go for the major goals. One must finish what has been started; giving a break to something which you have started won't be of any help to anyone. Without motivation you may be urged to quit when things will not work out. So it is very important that one must finish the work once started no matter how long it takes. Find what you are naturally made of, as an individual one must find out what is he or she is really interested in rather the routine job. For example if you wanted to be a tennis player, then just grab that racket and start playing with your friends, if you win you get motivated and motivation will give you persistence and persistence will get the job done.
There is one more tool you can use for motivation that is hypnosis; there are a lot of mp3 and videos available on the Internet for motivation. Just download one and start listening to them. As soon as you are done with all the sessions you will be highly motivated and ready to achieve your goals as you wanted. Hypnosis will help you find your inner strength and find the lost inspiration. Once a person is inspired and has a reason to do things, they will back it up with motivation to achieve their target.
For more information on Motivation and Hypnosis motivation check the links.

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---------------oOo--------------- Improving Motivation

By Duncan Brodie

A key part of every manager and leaders role is to get results through others. Achieving results through others requires is often a challenge. So how can you improve motivation?
Provide challenging work
While everyone needs to become comfortable in their role and build confidence, just about everyone enjoys a new challenge. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of believing that because someone is good at what they do, that is enough. Those that are good at their job generally want to grow and develop. Providing challenging work like involvement in a new project is an excellent way of improving motivation.
Learn to listen
One of the common frustrations that employees have is that they feel that they do not have a voice in the work place. People start out initially with enthusiasm but if what they are offering in terms of suggestions for improvements is not given proper consideration, they eventually give up or leave. Making the time to sit down, listen and explore ideas can have a huge impact on how people feel about their work.
Set meaningful goals
Objective setting or goal setting sessions carried out as part of staff appraisals are ideal opportunities to set meaningful goals. Yet often they can become sessions where the manager or leader merely tells the other person what they will be doing in the coming year. By engaging in dialogue about what the employee needs and the employer needs, more meaningful and motivating goals can be set.
Recognise achievements
In the busy work place, it is all too easy to fall into the trap of ticking things off the list and doing. People are probably working hard and actually achieving a lot but how often do you make the time to recognise the contributions that people make. Virtually every study or report that is produced around employee satisfaction highlights the importance of recognising achievements or praising good work. It takes little or no time and costs nothing.
Support balanced risk taking
If you are asking someone to do something new to them or to the organisation, you are asking them to take some risk. Organisations cannot be reckless, but achieving new levels of performance requires some degree of risk. Supporting and empowering people to take balanced risk can be extremely liberating and motivating. Remember that nothing of significance is achieved without some degree of risk.
Motivated people make a huge difference to organisational success. Making some simple changes in the way in which you operate as a manager and leader can greatly improve your ability to get results through others and improve motivation.
Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements (G&A) works with individuals,teams and organisations who want to develop their management and leadership capability in order to achieve more success. With 25 years business experience in a range of sectors, he understands first hand the real challenges of managing and leading in the demanding business world.
You can learn more about Duncan, Goals and Achievements services and products and sign up for his free e-course and monthly newsletter at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk

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---------------oOo--------------- Reframe Your Bad Habits Into Good

By Kenrick E. Cleveland

Habits, by definition, are habitual things we do. Whether it be a habit of needing that after dinner cigarette or biting your fingernails during a stressful period, we all are creatures of habit no matter how spontaneous we like to think we are.
The examples listed are somewhat negative, though mostly benign conditions (aside from smoking, which can be deadly). And in the western framework, habits are considered negative things which are supposed to be broken.
Aristotle observed, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit."
We are what we repeatedly do.
I've taken a new approach to habits. Instead of viewing them as all negative, I see the potential in developing habits. What habit could you begin today that would have a positive impact on your life? Exercise? Drinking eight glasses of water a day? Experts on the subject, say that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. For the next 21 days all you have to do is perform this task. Three weeks. It's not that long a period of time. Can you commit to listening to a light and sound session every morning for three weeks? How about drinking eight glasses of water a day for only three weeks?
Perhaps your personal goals are at the forefront right now. My suggestion here is to contact your other than conscious and talk about what you want out of life. Create the conscious intention of 21 days of 20 minutes of cardio exercise, for example. That seems fairly achievable, doesn't it?
Your most immediate concern may be business related. Prospecting or cold calling or doing some follow up with clients that you shy away from normally -- take any one thing and make it a serious intention to do it for 21 days. No matter what, follow through. And after the 21 days are up, you've set yourself up to have a new, productive, positive habit.
Kenrick Cleveland teaches techniques to sell to affluent clients using persuasion strategies. He runs unique public and private seminars and offers home study courses, audio/visual learning tools, and coaching programs in persuasion techniques. Find more free articles at http://www.MAXpersuasion.com/blog . Be sure to sign up for his free report entitled "Yes! Persuasion."

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---------------oOo--------------- What Is Your Life Purpose?

By Camille Strate

Eckhart Tolle's latest book, "A New Earth ~ Awakening To Your Life's Purpose" is creating quite a stir. Thanks to Oprah Winfrey, there are millions of people reading this book; many of whom are also participating in her online 'class' on Monday nights. It's a pretty big deal, considering the number of people who're joining in each week (at last report, it was nearing one million). All in the name of ... finding our life's purpose? I'd say that's pretty impressive, even for Ms. Winfrey. But that's not the point here.
What I'm wondering is, how many people actually even consider the question, 'what is my life's purpose?' How many people have the moxie, or awareness, or presence to even consider that they may have a purpose, other than to make money and feed themselves (and/or their children)? Given the opportunity, how many people would take the time, if they knew they could do it without being homeless, to find out what their purpose really is? Beyond all that, how many would 'give up' the comforts their paychecks afford in order to follow whatever path they find to be their 'own true north'? I'm guessing that in today's culture the number of people who would (give up that fat paycheck) are fairly small. And I don't say this because I'm skeptical. I say this because I talk to a lot of people every single day, and most of them are completely dumbfounded by the idea of making less money to be happy.
Mostly, I think, it's because the majority think that money comes first, happiness second. Turns out this may be completely backwards. In the last 10 years, the scientific community has come up with a 'new' science: 'positive psychology' or 'the science of happiness'. All sorts of studies have been (are continue to be) done on the effects of our mindset on our biology (our bodies) and our happiness quotient. It seems that when we approach our daily lives with a positive attitude, the overall effect on our bodies, our relationships, even our successes, are hugely impacted. There is even proof that we can heal any malady (including 'terminal illness' with our minds. But (and this is a very huge 'but'), we must first set our brains to 'happy'. In other words, think first, act second. Not the other way around.
Recently, Deepak Chopra aired a show about happiness. During this 90 minute 'chat', he stated over and over that first we must understand that happiness is not something we 'find', but rather something we acknowledge from within. We're all born happy, and lose that seed as we 'grow up', based on outside influences and social demands. The trick is to take time to quiet one's mind and connect with 'Source' (some call it 'God', or 'Universal Intelligence' or any number of things...all one in the same). Once we practice this quieting, we can strengthen our connection and thereby resume living our 'happy' lives. Sounds simple enough. But I wonder, how many people have ever tried this? How many people do you suppose take that 15 minutes, twice a day, to just be still and quiet their mind? Do they trust the feelings they experience or the thoughts that come after that meditation well enough to actually act on those impulses? Do they believe that by letting go of what is considered 'security' in lieu of following their path they will then live the lives they intended before coming 'forth' in this physical form? Do they believe that one person can actually effect the whole? Most importantly, do they believe that we are all connected, and therefore all effecting each other in every thing we do, every thought we think, every interaction we have?
I'm one of those who believe that we, as humans, are on the edge of something very big. Back in the 60s, it was called 'the age of aquarius'. We're in that age right now. According to astrologers, astronomers and other 'new age' gurus, we are coming into one of the biggest transformations in human history. 'The next evolution' of mankind is upon us. Mr. Tolle talks about this as well. We're facing something extraordinary, and it's up to us to take the steps to continue our evolution. Some say that this is IT. If we ignore it, we're doomed. Others say that this is only a first step and there is much more to come before we, as a species, will evolve beyond our enormously flawed state of Being (now) and become the enlightened Beings we intended. Hard to say. I prefer the more optimistic approach.
Let's say that we are on the edge of that quantum leap, so to speak. Let's say that right now, in this moment, we are converging and growing that 'light' rather than deepening the darkness that seems to shadow the world. Let's say that NOW is the time when we, as humans, finally accept our 'lightness of Being' and a new earth really IS awakening. How splendid would that be? If we are to truly find our purpose on earth, it would seem we'd first have to ask the question. After that, it's really a matter of believing we CAN and then acting on that belief. I don't think it's such a massive undertaking. It's really quite simple. If we will acknowledge the good in all people and stop fighting that which we do not like (resisting is just another form of attention), we could actually BE the change we would like to see in the world, as Ghandi said. It all starts in your own 'back yard'. That back yard is YOU. Are you ready?
Camille Olivia Strate is an author, coach and travel consultant who takes great pleasure in helping folks 'remember' who they are. She spends much of her time with her beloved animals, maintaining that they are her greatest connection to Source. When she's not 'coaching' or writing, she can be found in the garden or on a trail, soaking in the marvels of Nature's offerings. Her latest book, "Whispers" is now available in eBook format. Hardcopy to follow soon! Visit her personal site at http://www.joyzachoice.com
For business information, business opportunities or just great deals on traveling, visit her travel site, http://www.joyztravel.info

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