Monday, January 28, 2013

Quote for the Week

"Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don't want." - Hannah Whitall Smith

Monday, January 21, 2013

Quote for the Week

"You will never be happier than you expect. To change your happiness, change your expectation." -- Bette Davis

Monday, January 14, 2013

Quote for the Week

Success is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Bigger Questions Grow Your Life

I have mentioned before that should be asking yourself “how can I..?” instead of “why can’t I..?” Every question you ask yourself sets off a chain reaction in your subconscious. Your mind immediately begins to work on finding an answer or validating the belief behind the question. It is this validation sequence that makes the “why can’t I..?” question so damaging. Your mind immediately begins to seek out and identify everything that validates the negative thought pattern and, of course by doing so, reinforces the negative and downward attitude. The questions we ask ourselves need to be phrased in a positive and forward moving manner. The “how can I..? questions also get your mind seeking answers but with questions phrased in the positive your mind begins to seek solutions. In order to answer the question you subconsciously and then consciously begin to find the steps needed in order to move forward and achieve the goal.

But the really amazing thing to keep in mind is that the enormity of the solution grows in direct proportion to the enormity and complexity of the questions asked. In simpler terms: Ask bigger questions and you’ll get bigger answers. Simple questions get simple answers.  If you are trying to grow, if you are trying to stretch yourself and your abilities, simple questions just won’t get the job done. You need to ask bigger questions. What will it take to make “x” happen? How can I accomplish “x”? Don’t be afraid to make the “x” as big as you can think of. Ask the question and let your brain go to work on the solution. You are capable of more than you know. 

Many of the people putting dents into the universe today, or who have done so in the past, came from very humble beginnings. But they did not let their past or their current conditions dictate what their future would become. They were not afraid of asking bigger questions; questions of themselves and of the world around. They sought solutions and then tried to put them into action. Many ideas fell short, many times their plans did not work out as envisioned but they did not stop. They kept asking those big questions and seeking those bigger answers until they found the ones that worked for them and allowed them to achieve what they were striving for. Abraham Lincoln comes to mind. You could not start from a more humble beginning yet he rose up to become president of this country and led us through a very dark and tumultuous period of our history. Your local library is full of biographies of very successful people who started their journeys from very modest beginnings. But one of the common denominators amongst all those biographies is that each and every person was not afraid to ask bigger and bigger questions. And, probably more importantly, not afraid to follow through with the answer.

What is it that you want to accomplish? What dent would you like to put into the universe? Start asking yourself the “How can I…?” and keep asking until the answer is crystal clear in your mind. Turn that answer into action and take action. You are more than you thing you are. You have deeper resources than you think you do. Never underestimate what you can accomplish.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Quote for the Week

The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be. - Oprah Winfrey

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Time to set your 2013 goals

2013 has arrived. Where did 2012 go? Time picks up speed year after year doesn’t it? That is the exact reason why you need to spend some time thinking about and writing out specific goals for the next year. You need specifics to focus and work on or you will end up 12 months from now in the same spot you are now. That is just not acceptable.  Not acceptable for you and not acceptable for those around you. Life is about growth and development – regardless of the activity. The better you get the more enjoyment you will have whatever the endeavor.

Start with a blank sheet of paper and make four horizontal lines so that the sheet ends up with five separate sections. Label each of the five sections with one of the five elements of True Success: Head, Heart, Health, Wealth and World.

Fill in each section with at least two goals to achieve over the next 12 months. Take your time and come back to this on several different days. It is both too important to rush through and too complicated to think about every element at once. And remember – these are your goals. Just as no two people have the same life experiences, no two people will have the same goals.

Think stretch goal – A good goal should take effort on your part and ideally be something that you are not 100% sure how or if you can do it. Yes, you want to succeed but if you already can see it accomplished than where does the growth and development come in.

Imagine a conversation in January 2014 with a parent, grandparent, or one of your children. What would you be proud to tell them about? What skills and abilities have you learned or taken to a whole new level? What relationships have you made stronger? What have you done to improve your overall health and well-being? What have you accomplished in the financial arena to secure a better economic future for you or your family? What and how have you contributed back to the world at large?

This blog entry rings a bell in the back of your mind because you have either read or thought about goal setting before. And you also know that written goals are very powerful. Hear the bell and take action. Schedule some time right now when you are going to sit with your paper and pen and start the process of putting your goals to paper. Feel the inner pride of taking a step toward a more successful future for you and everyone you care about.