Motivational Words of Wisdom, Inspirational Words of Wisdom

Do you remember that inner voice? You know - the one that we have to put a muzzle on, and train? The one that says that “we can do better”, what we did was “not good enough”, and even “you’re a failure”.

Can you tell why that voice needs to be silenced? First and foremost, because it is wrong! We gain nothing from “beating ourselves” up about things. In fact, it is a serious waste of energy that could be spent building ourselves up. By the way, remember we are only supposed to be speaking to ourselves in an exemplary manner, if you’re not, put that rubber band back on your wrist.

Let’s face it we are human and we’re not perfect. Now that that has been said, there are going to be times when you cannot give something one-hundred percent, just sixty and that’s okay as long as you’re doing YOUR best. What is your best? Your best is whatever you are capable of in the moment. Will it change? Absolutely! I’ll bet that you are capable of performing better when you are feeling well, are well-rested, and are fed, as opposed to sick, exhausted, and starving. See how other factors can come into play to change the level of best that we are able to provide at a given time? Does that mean that if you give 40-percent instead of 90-percent that you are a failure? Absolutely Not! So long as you give that 40- percent your best effort. This really IS all about YOU!

Claudia was in charge of the decorations for an event at her Women’s Group. She was scheduled to get everything completed the afternoon before the function. With a detailed vision for the atmosphere that she wanted to create for the event, she could hardly wait to bring her ideas to life. One day before she was supposed to decorate, she came down with the flu. Her attempts to get someone to fill in for her were futile with such short notice. As she dragged herself out of bed to get ready to go to the conference room to decorate, she knew that her original ideas would have to be scaled down because there was no way that she had enough energy to get it all done. She finished the job in just over four hours, and as she looked around she sighed because she had so wanted to put the lavish decorating scheme into place, but had to give herself a huge pat on the back because despite how lousy she felt, the room looked darned good! She decided not to scrap her original ideas for the room, but to try to incorporate them into their next scheduled event.

Claudia knew that she was not capable of putting the elaborate decoration scheme together while she was sick, but she did not consider it a failure, she was proud of herself. She did the best she could and that was all she was able to do.

We need to take our cues from within. If we are true to ourselves and in touch with our feelings, we will always be in a place where we can do our best. Our best, not the best that others can do, or what others think we should do. It is very important to remember this. If we forget it we are acting from a place of “should” and that is a road better not traveled at all.

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Do you find much fault in the statement ‘You create your own reality’?  If so, you’re not in the minority.  Many find it absolutely ludicrous that anyone could presume that they’ve created massive debt, a broken home, a thankless job, or unemployment.  But a little exploration will often uncover just the opposite. 

The place where attention is focused is exactly where results materialize.  It’s completely natural to focus on the things that we want changed.  The common mistake is focusing on what is the present reality, instead of what is desired.  Admit it, the complaint about how little your paycheck is, or how short your patience really is, or exactly how many bills are due…  These are all testimonials to what you are currently seeing, based on previous thoughts.  The cycle must be broken.

What’s a person to do?  Embrace the “seeing is believing” saying, but with a twist.  You have to believe in what you truly want/desire before you will see it show up.  Eliminate the doubt, eliminate the negative vibes associated with what is, and dream a little.  Take time to dream about a life that’s free of debt, free of complications, and full of prosperity, fulfillment, peace and harmony.  Isn’t that a pleasant vision?  Close your eyes and think of it for a few minutes.  Is your heart lighter, there a smile on your face, your brow smooth from worry?  Take a moment to gauge exactly how you feel in this moment.  THIS is the present that you created by visualizing your true desired outcome.  These are the types of feelings you should be experiencing in order to manifest prosperity, wealth, good health, happiness, a wonderful relationship, etc.

Alex was in a mood.   He was tired of relationship after relationship going sour.  When he got home from dinner (after yet another break-up) he was depressed.  In an effort to turn his mood around he turned on his stereo and went out on the terrace.  As the glorious colors of the sunset melded into each other and the tunes played in the background he began to relax.  A song came onto the radio that took him back to his childhood.  He recalled hiding at the top of the stairs watching his parents dance to the same song long after they thought he and his sister had gone to bed.  He recalled the oneness of their movements, the fondness and love that they shared for each other that was always almost palpable.  During the song the image in his mind changed and he began to envision himself dancing with his soul mate in their stead.  When the song was over a smiling Alex happily hummed his way off to bed.  The next morning as he walked into work still relaxed and smiling from the previous night, an attractive woman asked him why he was so happy.  He glanced down at her with a jolt, for he never saw the face of the soul mate that he held in his arms in his vision, but the woman smiling up at him had hair the same color.  Alex had gotten the believing it part right and was actually seeing what he had created for himself.

You can do it too.  Release all of the negativity, the “I don’t wants”, the “I shouldn’t have tos” from your life.  Stop living in the past and take the time in the present to design your future.  Only you have the power to create your reality – make it live up to your wildest dreams – as only you can do.

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If you’re like me, every so often you like the feeling of starting over fresh and getting organized, and what better time to do that than at the beginning of a new year?  Here are some steps designed to help you review and improve all areas of your life.

Off To A Great Start: 10 Ways to Make Your Life Easier in 2007

Welcome to 2007!   If you’re like me, every so often you like the feeling of starting over fresh and getting organized, and what better time to do that than at the beginning of a new year?  Here are some steps designed to help you review and improve all areas of your life. 

1.         Slow yourself down.  The first thing I recommend is to stop rushing through your life so fast that you miss the little things.  Like John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”  And by being a little more organized, you will be able carry out your responsibilities at a much less stressful pace, and enjoy yourself.

2.         Leave the past behind.  Whatever happened last year that made you angry or upset you, let it go — it’s gone and over with, so forget all about it.  Say “Good riddance to bad rubbish!” and open your mind to new possibilities, and look forward to upcoming adventures.

3.         Review the strengths and weaknesses of all areas of your life.  Take an inventory of what needs to be changed or improved or removed – literally, make a list!  On one side, write down all the good things you’ve accomplished.  On the other side, write down an honest self-analysis of how you’d like things to be.  Then your mission will be clear.

4.         Divide your “To Do” list into five sections:  Home, Relationships, Physical Fitness, Work, and Spiritual/Mental Health.  As you do this, you should begin to feel more organized and in control.  You will also feel less overwhelmed by what may look like insurmountable tasks.

5.         Start at Home.  Put away the holiday decorations, file old papers, organize your closets, throw out or donate anything you don’t use or wear, go over your finances and put yourself on a budget.  As you begin to actually see more organization, you will feel inspired by your accomplishments and will be more eager to tackle the rest.

6.         Examine your relationship(s)…  not only with your partner, but also with family and friends.  Check in with loved ones with whom you haven’t spoken in a while and make an effort to speak kindly to those you love on a daily basis —  “please” and “thank you” are always appreciated.  Also, take the initiative to mend fences, and forgive those who have hurt you (even though that may mean moving on as well).

7.         Make some kind of physical fitness part of your daily routine.  You don’t have to start out by making a commitment to an expensive gym or running 5 miles the first morning.  Simply pinpoint one-half hour of time during your day and make an effort to move around.  Take a walk, stretch, dance to some music, join a class – do something that will get your blood moving and strengthen your body.

8.         At work, give your space a makeover.  Organize your desk differently.  Trade in your old boring beige manila folders for some new colored ones.  Change your pictures or the frames.  Buy a plant, move things around – do something to make your workspace a little more comfortable for you.  Also take a look at your relationships with work associates.  Make a promise to yourself not to gossip anymore, and take some time to say hello to new employees who would love to feel included in your group of friends.

9.         Boost your mental health.   Remember all of the bad advice you received last year?  Dump it.  And those negative thoughts that run around in your head when you’re feeling bad?  Label them in your mind as “Bad for Me” and dismiss them as soon as they rear their ugly heads!  By purposefully thinking positive thoughts, you will take control of your emotional and psychological health thereby improving your confidence and self-esteem.

10.       Set some goals.  Don’t set the bar too high, or put too much pressure on yourself.  Just make a list of some reasonable things you’d like to accomplish, places you’d like to go, and things you’d like to do that you can begin to work towards right now.  For example, if one of your goals is to go back to school, the first thing you can do is get some brochures from different schools or go sign up.  If your goal is to buy a condo, your first move should be to look in the paper or call up some realtors and tell them what to look for in your area and price range.

I believe that by keeping yourself moving forward, you will always be on the path to your destiny – even if you take a few wrong turns along the way. 

Happy new year!

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I have to admit most of the news today seems to have me feeling a bit anxious and a little afraid, and searching for some kind of refuge from the chaos.  It used to be that in times of distress we could turn to our priests for consolation, or our local politicians for explanations, or the police for help, however, those sanctuaries seem to be disappearing.  So what can we do?

Atomic Stress

Lately I find myself worrying a lot more than usual.  About the safety of our kids on the streets,  about sickness and disease, and about the war now growing so out of control.  I turn on the news to get updated on the latest information and am greeted with the impending threats of global warming, the latest pedophile in custody, and images of bloody, amputated corpses and crying children… oh, and of course, the latest celebrity break-up.

I have to admit most of that seems to have me feeling a bit anxious and a little afraid, and searching for some kind of refuge from the chaos.  It used to be that in times of distress we could turn to our priests for consolation, or our local politicians for explanations, or the police for help, however, those sanctuaries seem to be disappearing.  Today a lot of us feel that our priests are creepy, our politicians are fickle, and our police officers are overburdened.  So what can we do?

When it comes to the world around us, I think we need to do the only thing we can do, and that is our own small part – something, anything that will benefit our future in even the tiniest way.  I have friends who join the crowds and protest the war – I send emails and letters to senators and the White House.  I appreciate the people who attend the vigils for the innocent children who stepped in the way of stray bullets, however, I advocate peace through my writing, and say my prayers.  And while other people carry on as though nothing is happening, I stop now and then and take it all in, appreciating the quiet moments, the beauty that is left, and the love that still exists around me.

So while it’s true that we will never know for sure when another tower will fall or if another self-proclaimed religious-minded leader with a suspicious agenda will send more of our citizens to war, it is true that at least in our own corner of the world we can unite and send a collective appeal out into the universe through our words and actions which, I have to believe, must be worth something.  A plea for understanding, peace, and forgiveness… of others and of ourselves.  Hope, I fear, as found in our prayers, in our good intentions, and in the eyes of our children, may be our only recourse in helping us to endure our new realities and find some relief in our own minds and hearts, at least until that hope is realized.

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If conversations around the watercooler begin with “If only…” and/or “That department is so…”, chances are you may have a few whiners hidden throughout the organization (maybe they’re not so hidden). There are ways to turn whiners into winners from the inside out.

Maybe your first thought when you think of a whiner is little kids you sometimes see in a shopping mall or some other public place whining because they aren’t getting their way.  Or maybe you think of people you work with (or have worked with) who always seem to be complaining about something. 

Their whining may be about little or personal things like, “Why can’t we get better coffee?” or “why don’t we have a dental plan?”.  Or maybe the whining is about bigger business issues like, “if marketing would just build a better plan, we’d all be better off,” or “Why can’t IT keep the e-mail running?”

The truth is that while you may not voice your complaints in a sing-song voice, I’ll bet you whine too.  Most all of us do.  How do I know?  Because I believe whining really is an external search for the sources of our discomfort, displeasure, unhappiness or problems.

The rest of the truth is this – as long as we are looking external to ourselves; as long as we are whining – we aren’t giving ourselves a chance to learn or to improve our situation. The only way to learn is to look internally to see what our role is, what influence we have and to determine what we can do change the situation we are facing.

Here are seven specific things you can do to help you move past whining and take the actions needed to make you happier, healthier and more successful.

Four Questions to Ask Yourself

These four questions are separate but completely linked.  You may move past whining by asking just one of them, or it may take asking yourself each of them (several times) to help you in any given situation.

•  Ask “What part did I play in the situation?”  This question is powerful because it assumes that we will find our role.  Once we know our role we are in a position to make a change if needed.

•  Ask “What’s in my control?”  Not everything in a situation will be in your control.  But something is.  Once we know what is in our control, we have a better chance to stop whining and take some intelligent action.

•  Ask “What can I do now?”  The situation is over (the e-mail already went down).  This question gets us focused on the best present action or activity.

•  Ask “How can I change the situation next time?”  This question completes the cycle by encouraging us to make a change for the next time – to apply what the questions - and our answers – have taught us.

Three Things to Stop Doing

Action is the key to changing our perspective and results.  The questions above will help you sort out what action you can take to change your situation.   The three suggestions below will reinforce your new internal focus on your success. 

•  Stop blaming.  We blame all sorts of things and people:  our boss, the other department, our parents, our kids, the time of the year, the circumstances, the weather or fill-in-the-blank.  As long as we are blaming, we are whining.  And as long as we are whining, we are standing still because we aren’t looking for ways to improve the situation.

•  Stop saying “they.”  Sure, other people played a part in the situation you face.  There may be things that they are doing or did that really bother you or have a negative impact on you.  Don’t let this obscure the fact that other people aren’t the only ones who played a part in the situation.  You did too.  They did something and you chose a response.  Saying (or thinking) “they” is just like pointing your finger in blame – you will forever be waiting on someone else to change or do something differently.

•  Stop saying “but.”  “But” also is often a convenient way to shift the responsibility from ourselves.  “I would have completed it yesterday, but (enter your excuse here).”  Can you see how in this situation “but” becomes the carrier for excuses?

The message of these actions is that winners take action and whiners don’t.  While I have written this from the perspective of the things that you can do, you also can use these actions as a template to help or coach others to move past their complaints and excuses and onto productive action.

When we take these steps we allow ourselves to learn, feel more empowered and be more productive.  In other words these actions will help us stop whining and start winning!

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The mind is an extremely powerful tool, and if it’s used right it can completely turn your life upside down. You can have everything you want.

Do you ever think about the way you live your life? Do you wonder what have caused you to take so many wrong turns? The answer is pretty simple; You’re human. Everyone (no matter how successful they are) make small or big mistakes throughout their lives. Have you ever heard of the power of thought or the power of suggestion? The mind is an extremely powerful tool, and if it’s used right it can completely turn your life upside down. You can have everything you want. You can become what have only existed in your dreams. All the information you need, in order to make this happen, is out there. And best of all; It is free. Some of the greatest writers on Personal Development are long dead and their work has been handed over to the public domain.

I spent years searching the internet for information about Personal Development. I researched thousands of websites looking for the right material. I downloaded and read tons of useful (and useless) information about personal development. But still I wasn’t satisfied. I couldn’t get rid of the feeling I was overlooking something.

The books that are partly responsible for the start of the Personal Development movement, was written a long time ago. In 1912 Charles F. Haanel wrote his best known book ‘The Master Key System’. Many Authors in the same genre consider this book to be one of the main sources of their inspiration. Have you heard of Napoleon Hill? He wrote the following in a letter to Haanel: “my present success and the success which has followed my work as President of the Napoleon Hill Institute is due largely to the principles laid down in The Master-Key System.”

Rumors also has it that Haanels book inspired Bill Gates to drop out of the University to pursue his dreams. We all know what happened to him. The copyrights for the ‘The Master Key System’ has expired and it is now in the public domain. That means that it is free for anyone to download, read and distribute.

Another book I would like to point out is a wonderful book written in 1902. James Allens ‘As a Man Thinketh’. This is a book that is just as relevant today as in 1902. The main message in the book is this: “Change your thoughts, change your life”.

All the most powerful and successful people in the world know how to do this. You can learn it to.

Both ‘The Master Key System’ and ‘As a Man Thinketh’ are at the “must read” list if you want to start unlocking the secrets of Personal Development.

At PersonalDevelopmentBooks.net you can download ‘The Master Key System’, ‘As A Man Thinketh’ and hundreds of other books for free.

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Winning is not a birthright, but a mindset and a lifestyle that begins with a decision.  The winner decides that he or she is in control of the outcomes in his or her life.

There are some things in my world I cannot change.  The sun will rise in the east and set in the west.  Mother Earth will spin about its axis.  Gravity will pull.  The Grim Reaper will visit us all eventually.  But most everything else in my world is fair game, subject to my influence.  This is true for you too, if you choose.  There is tremendous empowerment in choosing to believe this way.  If someone or something else is in control, then all you can do is wait and wonder.  Wait for the world to happen to you.  Wonder why others are happy and you are not.  If you choose to believe that you happen to the world, and not vice versa, there is always a way to improve, to better your situation, to live on your terms and to win as you define winning.

Things always seem to happen to those who do not win.  Many of them consider themselves unlucky or even cursed.  Winners seem more fortunate, but this “good luck” is no accident.  Winners command good fortune to come into their lives.  Winners, unlike those who do not win, happen to the world.  They simply do not believe there are situations that they cannot impact, if not control, when it comes to their lives.  Every situation, even seemingly negative ones, is an opportunity to get one step closer to the prize.  Winners simply will not accept the phrase “that’s the way it has to be.”  Why?  Because they know that some people do win.  Some people do prosper in spite of adversity.  Some people do live the lives of their dreams and beyond.  So, why not them, and for that matter, why not you?  We all arrived on this earth as equals, and therefore you have no less right to yours as anyone else has to theirs.

There is much that I have not yet learned, but I know this much is true.  Grass grows, flowers bloom and winners win.  Some would have you believe that winning is an outcome that only special people enjoy; people more special than you.  However, winning is not a birthright, but a mindset and a lifestyle that begins with a decision.  The winner decides that he or she is in control.  The winner decides to be the king of his thing, not simply a squirrel in someone else’s world trying to get a nut.  You can choose to view your life in this same way.  Choose to be the king of your thing and your greatness will surely follow.

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The power of asking is one of the least talked about ways to leverage and activate the Law of Attraction.

We’ve been taught that asking for help is a sign of weakness; but the reality is quite the opposite. In fact, the seemingly simple act of asking for what you need help with shows a depth of courage many people lack.

And it activates one of the most powerful natural forces imaginable.

The law of attraction is real, whether you believe in it or not. Everything you currently have (or lack) in your life is there because you are either attracting it or repelling it. Just look around. Whatever you believe to be true, you can find evidence for - probably more than enough evidence.

Think the world is a scary place? There’s more than enough evidence to support that viewpoint.

Maybe you think the world is serenely beautiful? There’s plenty to support that view as well.

What you focus on expands, so when you take the step of asking for assistance, you are showing the strength of your commitment to that goal. And you are showing faith in the Universe that it will provide for you.

During the launch of my book “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life: Vol 3″, on Feb 6 2007, something dramatic happened to illustrate this truth that I would like to share.

Prior to the book launch, I had made a commitment to myself and to my coach that I would notify at least 1000 people about the book. I thought this was going to be a stretch for me because I only had about 580 people on my personal contact list.

So I decided leverage the power of asking by requesting the assistance of those 580 people.

Many people sent my note along to 2, 3, 10, 20 people… in total, these ’small’ drips added up to over 200 people. One person responded and told me that he forwarded my note to 212 people.

I was so close to reaching my goal of notifying 1000 people about my book, when I received another message that sent me way over the top.

I received an email from a newly met friend who is president of a company dedicated to helping people overcome their fears, phobias and anxiety. This friend sent my note to his entire client list… pushing me over the 1000 goal mark - by sending my message to over 7800 unique people in his database!

In total I reached a whopping 8685 people with my message, shattering my goal by more than 860%!

You’re probably wondering what the moral of the story is. Well, here’s what I got out of it.

You can’t always do everything you dream of by yourself. But when you set the intention, ask for help and let the Universe take care of the rest, you can achieve whatever you desire.

And there’s a good chance you’ll get even more than you ever expected.

The whole truly is greater than the sum if its parts. And you can activate and leverage that greatness simply by applying the Power of Asking.

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