'Reasoning' Our Way to Mediocrity

A great opportunity comes our way BUT we don't have the time available to take advantage of it... OR... the money... OR... the expertise... OR... we're lacking the support from home we feel we'd need... OR... we'd have to move... OR... the dog's been sick and needs us... OR...

You get the picture. There are never a shortage of Reasons for not doing something. Perhaps we're afraid of trying something new or we're afraid of failing. Regardless of the reasons our conditioned mind created for us, the source typically stems from an underlying fear.

Fear of failure
Fear of change
Fear of loss
Fear of alienation
Fear of risk...

The fear creates Reasons as to why we should not consider or attempt something new. Our reasons sound realistic. Our reasons sound true. Our reasons sound logical. They serve one main purpose though, they keep us in our comfort zone. Ultimately, staying in that zone is comfortable and easy, but it prevents us from learning, growing and expanding.

The bottom line, of course, is that if we are not learning and growing we become firmly entrenched in mediocrity. We will be 'okay' but we will not be living an 'amazing' life. Consider that you are 100 years old, looking back on your life. How would you prefer to be describing the life you've lived? Okay... or Amazing? And yet, most people are living their lives hoping for amazing but only doing enough to maintain their current level of 'okay'.

If you find yourself always giving in, without question, to all of the Reasons for not doing or attempting something new, you are choosing the status quo. You are choosing to remain firmly within your comfort zone. Unfortunately, all of the reasons for not doing something won't get you there, only action will. Therefore, you can have Reasons for not choosing action OR you can have the Results gained by pushing through your discomfort and taking action.

Sometimes our reasons are justified, but all too often they are simply a knee-jerk reaction of our brain to the thought of change. If you don't start challenging all of the reasons your brain gives you for not doing something, then you are going to find yourself stuck in the rut of mediocrity. There is no true change without discomfort. Get uncomfortable to make things begin to happen.

When next you find yourself confronted by a list of reasons for not taking action, tell yourself...

I can have Reasons, or I can have Results

And then ask yourself...

What Results are these Reasons keeping me from achieving?

If you are unwilling to let that result go, then you need to see those reasons for what they are - Excuses - and push on through. Few people looking back on their life are satisfied with all of the reasons for not having lived the life they desired. Instead, we are satisfied and gratified to look back and see that we took some chances, pushed and challenged ourselves and lived a life of our choosing. What do you want to look back and see?

About the Author:

Cindy Dachuk is in demand as an Executive/Personal Coach, Trainer and Speaker. having travelled throughout the United Sates and Canada delivering sessions in areas such as: Bragging Rights, Personality-Based Persuasion, Executive Presence and Personal Branding. Her role as a Coach has provided her with the opportunity to work with clients on a one-on-one basis, mentoring them in the development of a personal plan of action. Her book, It's Time Now, is based on her experiences in helping others identify and achieve their life goals. Her newest program, Bragging Rights is now available online, helping individuals learn how to speak up, stand out and move up!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Reasoning-Our-Way-to-Mediocrity&id=7509298

7 Quick Tips to Cultivate a Positive Attitude and Get Rid of Worry

Do you want to cultivate a positive outlook towards life? We should always remember that having a positive attitude is a choice and it is possible to change our mood by thinking positive thoughts. One should always look for possibilities instead of pessimism and worries.

In this article I have compiled some tips which help you to become more positive and stay confident.

1. Choose to be Positive

It is our decision to choose positive thoughts instead of negative ones. If negativity has become a part of your personality then it is difficult but it is our responsibility to change our attitude. Don`t let anyone control your thoughts and emotions. An individual should not be controlled by his thoughts instead he should be the master of his thoughts and emotions.

2. Don`t Overestimate Situations

Most of the times we overhype the situations around us. There are situations that seem to be more worrisome than they really are. Try to analyze each difficult situation and don`t let such situations make you anxious and worrisome.

3. Stop Being a People Pleaser

Don`t let anyone decide your mood and behavior. Always remember that you can`t make everyone happy. It`s not always your fault when a closed one or relative is not in a good mood. Don`t ever roam around full of guilt and condemnation.

4. Do You Believe in Prayer?

Don`t get out of your bed without offering a thankful prayer to almighty God. Prayer does have tremendous prayer. Prayer clears all the doubts and prepares you for the day.

5. Associate with Positive Thinkers

If you really want to change your negative thought process then it is very important to stop socializing with negative minded people and start making optimistic friends.

6. Read True Inspiring Stories

If you want to get motivated and change the way you think then start reading the real life stories of people who have gained success in their lives despite all hardships and difficulties.

7. Analyze Your Behavior

Analyze your attitude and try to identify negative habits that you repeat on a daily basis. You don`t need to follow old patterns but it is a smart idea to start creating life changing habits.

It is easier to stay positive when things around us are going well. But it is a difficult job to keep up a positive attitude when you are in the midst of difficulties and problems.

http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Quick-Tips-to-Cultivate-a-Positive-Attitude-and-Get-Rid-of-Worry&id=7515830

In the Zone - The Flow

Have you got a talent? Is there something you are really good at? Can you remember being good at something when you were at school, but are not good at now? Here's how you might feel, if the answer to those questions is 'Yes'.

People who are exceptionally good at things - snooker players, athletes, chess players, often say that when they are doing the thing they excel in, they experience a state of being in which time flashes by - they feel on top of the world, their attention to what they are doing is such that everything around them fades into the background. Do you ever feel that way?

This state is termed 'flow' by some, being 'in the zone' by others. Sir Ken Robinson, the noted British educationalist, has found that talented people - those that find their natural talent meets their personal passion - those lucky people have found what he calls, 'the element'. Have you found your 'element'?

Psychologist, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, states that people are at their happiest when they are in a state of flow - the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.

This is identical with being 'in the zone' and has certain characteristics.

1. Clear goals - activities align perfectly with your skills and abilities.
2. Concentrating and focusing - focusing attention on a very specific task like playing billiards, or writing a story, for example.
3. A loss of the feeling of self-consciousness - people in the zone report a certain loss of consciousness about their surroundings - and a heightened sense of awareness where their task is concerned.
4. Distorted sense of time - time flies - people report that the hours spent on the task feel like minutes.
5. Direct and immediate feedback - performance on the task is continually monitored, adjusted and perfected.
6. Balance between ability level and challenge - the activity comes naturally - it is not too easy or too difficult.
7. A sense of personal control - this is felt at maximum levels.
8. The activity is intrinsically rewarding - the activity required is effortless and feedback is positive.
9. People become absorbed in their activity, and their focus is narrowed down to the activity - awareness and attention merge and are totally directed toward the activity.
10. Note though that not all the above are necessarily required for flow to be experienced.

This 'zoning in' on a specific task, is also referred to as hyper focus, and includes using the imagination, daydreaming and focusing on concepts.

Robinson's main point in his book, 'The Element', is that each of us has this potential to find 'the element' - our own meeting of passion and talent. Most of us, he says, were benignly steered away from what we were liked or were good at as children, but that all is not lost - it can be found - it is still there, in our own minds.

Creativity, a mental and social process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations of the creative mind between existing ideas or concept, is one way into this - being creative - coming up with new ideas that are of value, is aided by not being afraid to be wrong -

Paul McCartney thought up the name, 'Eleanor Rigby' whilst wandering around the streets of Bristol - "The name just came to me," he says. We all know the lines of the famous song - but he couldn't have known for sure how that name would be received by the public - he wasn't afraid of being wrong - but it was so right, as it turned out.

Paul McCartney was fortunate - he found his 'element' early in life and benefited from it. We might feel it is impossible for us to be as successful as him, but in one sense, we can be; we can be at our happiest by finding our own 'element' and getting 'into the zone'; we can excel at something we loved doing, but ignored as we grew into adult-hood. Scientists are now studying savants to find out which part of their brain is activated and where their amazing abilities come from.

"Talent doesn't emerge until the conditions are right," says Robinson, "individual teachers can make a difference." The quality of the tuition, the materials used, and the techniques used to teach subjects do make a great deal of difference.

Amazingly, the musical abilities of both Paul McCartney and George Harrison were undiscovered at school. I would say most of us had talents that were either actively squandered or ignored at school, simply because they didn't fit in with the narrow curriculum or the even narrower way intelligence was conceptualized and measured.

For some, their talents lay in music, others in math or science; for some it may be art, dance, or drama. If Robinson is correct when he says that many talented, gifted people think they are not, you may be one. What are you going to do about it? Rekindle areas of your past interests to find out what you are good at.

http://ezinearticles.com/?In-the-Zone---The-Flow&id=7517060

The 3-In-1 Path to Any Desired Outcome

I won't make you wait. Here it is: "Do my thoughts, words, and actions lead me toward or away from my desired outcome?" Pretty straight-forward, don't you think? I do want to say something about desired outcomes: it's best if they're aligned with and for your highest good or the highest good of all involved. Negative or out-of-harmony intentions always find a way to bite you on the bum!

Let's look at the 3-in-1: Thoughts, words, and actions. Each are important, but one always affects the other two, and all three always work together as one energy transmission to yourself, others, and the Universe. You won't speak or act in anger if your thoughts are peaceful or appreciative. And your thoughts won't be peaceful or appreciative if you speak and/or act from anger. This is, of course, true for any emotion or feeling.

Just so you're clear, I'm not saying anger (or any emotion you don't desire to feel) is a bad thing and that you shouldn't engage it; after all, it's there to get your attention on what's not working for you. I am saying you can feel anger (or any emotion you don't desire to feel) and still communicate what you need to from a place of inner peace, or at least a calmer demeanor, even or especially if you need a bit of time to get into this "space". Thoughts, words, and actions can be and are choices, and choices always create results or consequences. This is one reason the question works in and on your behalf at all times. So, let's look at the three aspects.

Thoughts are about more than just having them; about more than just thinking positive. They are also about deeper contemplation that lead you to make significant connections, like connect-the-dots drawings, to reveal and see the bigger, holistic picture you, others, and Source are a part of. They're like one of those starter fire logs: potential is within them once lit (with enough energy provided, that is), for desired or undesired outcomes, depending on what you do with them. We usually turn thoughts into words.

Words have power. They can heal, they can harm, they can create. They can uplift and support or they can suppress or crush. The moment you speak, you've added fuel to the fire, whether that's kindling to build a cozy fire that provides warmth and comfort, and even to cook, or gasoline that causes an explosion or a fire that burns out of control until time runs it out or something is done to put it out. Thoughts have power. Put them into words and you've enhanced or amplified their influence on your cause-and-effect outcome. Speaking words is also an action, as much as any physical action is.

Actions are like pushing down on the accelerator of a car. You're in motion until you put your foot on the brake to deliberately stop or pause (or you run out of fuel). If you're on a "good road," you more than likely have a good travel experience. If you're on a road under bad, unpleasant, or unfavorable conditions, like ice, you go into a skid or flip, and don't know the outcome, good or not-good, until you do.

Desired and undesired outcomes don't come about only as a result of what we think, say, or do deliberately. They also come to us as a result of how we respond or react when under pressure, which shows us what we've worked on about ourselves, as well as what still needs work. Both of these paths show us a great deal about what our relationship with ourselves, others, and Source is. Note: every relationship with others and with Source is ultimately a reflection of the one we have with our self. This fact may not be comfortable, and may even be scary, but it is accurate.

Observing ourselves in these ways is a handy assessment tool or method. This isn't meant to be used for self-judgment, just self-assessment and conscious, deliberate inner work. It's like an eye exam. You take an eye test, not to pass or fail it, but to take measurements. The results of the measurements show you where you are and what you need, to help you maintain or adjust your vision. It's the same for your vision of you and your life, others, and Source.

Too often it's too easy, and even endorsed by society to be "clever" with our comments or opinions, to say or spew whatever we think without thinking about it first. I recently shared a quote on social sites (attribution unknown) that expresses a misunderstanding some people or society in general often have: "Don't ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, or my kindness for weakness." People who practice silence, calmness, and kindness are sometimes viewed in a negative manner, as though personal power can be expressed only through aggression, when the opposite is true and aligned with Truth. Sometimes we focus more on what our ego-aspect thinks it can gain through being "clever" or hurtful or the "winner", than what we might lose.

In an article for "O" (Oprah's magazine), Catherine Newman wrote: "... life isn't about avoiding trouble; it's about being present, even through the hard stuff, so you don't miss the very thing you're trying not to lose." When we don't use the 3-in-1 question, we tend to lose something, whether that's the desired outcome; traction; any advance we've made; or confidence or faith in ourselves and/or the process; trust in Source; or even something remarkable within us waiting to be discovered, revealed, and expressed.

You could say the desired outcome to be in harmony and productive collaboration with ourselves, others, and Source is a good and even ultimate one to have. It covers a lot of ground, an expansive territory we call life and our experience of it. The way to attain or accomplish this is to consistently ask: Do my thoughts, words, and actions lead me toward or away from my desired outcome? It's a good practice, one you'll appreciate.

Practice makes progress.

© Joyce Shafer

Joyce Shafer is a Life Empowerment Coach dedicated to helping people feel, be, and live their true inner power. She's author of "I Don't Want to be Your Guru" and other books/ebooks, and publishes a free weekly online newsletter that offers empowering articles and free downloads. See all that's offered by Joyce and on her site at http://stateofappreciation.weebly.com/guest-articles.html#.UPGKUB3BGS

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Who Are THEY?

"There is just one life for each of us: our own." ~Euripides

I'm sure you've heard the expression, "You know what they say?" Who are THEY? I've heard it a hundred times. They say that people should do this or that. Or, they say this is right and that is wrong. They say a lot of stuff but who died and made them boss?

There are no rules that mandate that you have to live by what they say. Of course, they say we should live by the Golden Rule -Do unto others, and I actually have to agree with them this one time. But when it comes to your own personal choices, what do YOU say?

There is no law that says you have to grow up, get married and have children otherwise you won't be happy. But many people seem to believe that to be true. Who says you can't be happy without getting married and having a family?

There is also no law that says just because someone does something one way that their way is right and yours is wrong.

For instance, let's say you're a picky eater. And you're with someone that likes to try all kinds of new and different foods. There you are dining out and you don't want to try the Lizard's Eyes in Champagne Sauce because it just doesn't sound very appetizing to you. Your friend says to you, "Oh, I can't believe you won't try it, you are such a picky eater."

So, who cares if you're a picky eater? (Apparently, they do.) It's not like you're saying to them. "Oh, I can't believe you're going to eat that, you're NOT a picky eater." They say you should try new foods and experience new cuisines. Again, who are they to tell you what to do?

When someone tries to push their opinions on you they act as if there is something wrong with you because you should do it the way THEY think you should. When in reality you are perfect just the way you are with all of your likes, dislikes, habits, little idiosyncrasies and the way you do things is just fine.

I say, "You be you and I'll be me."

If I want to watch T.V. and you don't. Then don't. If you want to eat anything that crosses your path then by all means eat it and Bon Appetit!

But don't try and make me be any different than I am because I like who I am and I'm sorry you don't. And vice versa, you have no business trying to change someone to be who you want them to be because as you probably already know, the only person you can change is you.

Unless someone is hurting you by their behavior or they're abusive on some level; simply let them be who they are. (If they are hurting you, it's time to set boundaries, but that's another issue altogether).

By accepting people with all of their so called faults, if that's what you want to call them, you take the pressure off of you for not liking what they do or don't do and you take it off of them so they can just be who they are. And then everyone is happy!

The truth is that when people let go of judgment, condemnation and criticisms it frees you and them to live in harmony and you know what THEY say, "The truth will set you free."

http://ezinearticles.com/?Who-Are-THEY?&id=7509452

The Truth About Life Purpose

Knowing your purpose in life is like having a "north star" - it keeps you on track with what is most important. Yet there are many myths about life purpose, and it can sometimes be confusing. So here are three truths to help you on your journey.

Truth #1 - Life purpose is much more of a journey than a destination.

It is more a state of being than a state of doing. It's about who you are and how you show up in the world. Your life purpose may be expressed in specific ways, including (hopefully) your career path. But essentially it is an ongoing journey.

Realize that the journey may not be a straight line from point A to point B. More often than not there are twists and detours along the path. And these unexpected "detours," although frustrating and discouraging at the time, can lead to the greatest insights about our purpose.

We often think that life purpose has to be this BIG thing. But, to use the analogy of dance, what makes a good dancer might be their high kicks, super fast footwork, high leaps, or their ability to turn like a top. But what makes a good dancer great has less to do with the tricks and everything to do with how they fill the space between the movements.

Just like the quality of a dancer is determined by how he fills the space between the big movements, the quality of our life is determined by how we fill the space between the big moments of our journey. Remember, it's always about the journey.

When you think about the times in your life that you felt the greatest joy, it probably was not that once-in-a-lifetime vacation you took; most likely, it was found in a smile, a touch, a kind word... because you often find the most joy and meaning in the ordinary moments of life. The same is true of life purpose. How can you bring a greater sense of purpose to your ordinary moments? How do you fill out the "in between?"

Truth #2 - Your life purpose is a driving force.

Have you ever made a New Year's resolution? Did you know that, on average, most folks have given up on their resolutions by Jan 7th? That's because often our goals are things we think we should be doing. We tell ourselves, "I should work out more." "I should eat better." "I should lose those 10 lbs." "I should watch less TV."

However, when your goals emerge from your sense of purpose in life, there's a much higher likelihood of you achieving them. And as a result, you will have much more satisfaction, enthusiasm, and well-being.

Truth #3 - Your life purpose is an organizing force.

Have you ever experienced the power of synchronicity? Most of us have at some point in our lives. When you are living in alignment with your life purpose you become more magnetic and attract all kinds of supportive people and resources to you in ways you could not have previously imagined.

Knowing your life purpose also helps you stay focused and make decisions that are in alignment with who you are and why you are here. It acts like a barometer for the spirit.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Truth-About-Life-Purpose&id=7507177

Ready, Set, Go: Vision in 2013

We're already in the second month in 2013, and what have you done differently? If your answer is nothing, WHY NOT?! Time is too precious, and there is so much out there for us if only we would realize it. New Years resolutions are already falling to the wayside because so many of us lack drive, and discipline. I made a promise to myself that I was going to make network marketing work! Even having had no prior experience. Learn to set some goals and stick to them, that makes all the difference.

YOU have to be determined to reach your goals, no one is going to do it for you. Once I made up in my mind that I was going to be a network marketer, I chose to be consistent. I used to be the type of person who was just all over the place... my life was full of mediocrity! So I said, "NO, Not in 2013". Everything in my life has changed in the past year... I got married, moved out of my mother's house, and found out I was pregnant. It's no longer about me, I have a family of my own now. So I had to make a choice!

If you want that dream job, perfect body, or that college degree... the only thing holding you back is yourself! I know LIFE gets in the way sometimes but don't let that be the reason you become stuck in a rut. Get up, and change your situation. BELIEVE that you can do it, and ACT on your faith!

1. Write down your goals - This is where you start. It is only a dream until you write it down, then it becomes a goal. Be realistic and as specific as possible in setting your goals.

2. Create an action plan - How will you accomplish these goals? Put together an action plan on what exactly you are going to do to make sure you reach your goal(s). Once again, be as specific as possible in doing this.

3. Benchmarks - Benchmarks are a great way to make sure that you are on the right path to reaching your goals. It's sort of like a tracking system. Use this effective tool to see how you are progressing towards your goal.

4. Vision Boards - This is a new one that I use to remind me of what I'm aiming for. It can be cut outs of inspiring words or pictures that keep you going!

Good luck, and reach those goals!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Ready,-Set,-Go:-Vision-in-2013&id=7496647

Mind Secrets Review

I am no stranger to self-help books. I’ve read dozens of them over the past few years and I’ve come to same conclusion most of you have – they don’t really work.

Well, that’s not quite true. There are some shining gems that actually give what they promise and actually provide quality content. And Mind Secrets Exposed is one of those few examples of a great self-help book that actually delivers on its promise.

Greg Frost is the brains behind Mind Secrets Exposed and his latest offering focuses on the enhancing the power of the mind so that it can accomplish great things. Mind Secrets Exposed is a comprehensive guide on harnessing the power of the mind and tapping into its hidden potential and channeling it into success and happiness.

http://know1self.mentis.hop.clickbank.net

With Mind Secrets Exposed, readers are promised the ability to gain success, wealth, happiness, peace and anything else they would like to accomplish or have. I am glad to say that it doesn’t disappoint. Mind Secrets Exposed comes in two formats – an e-book and an audiobook, the standard for self-help books.

The book is written in a personal and casual manner, such that even the most novice of readers can grasp the concepts easily. Each chapter ends with action steps that provide tips and advice on implementing the chapter’s lessons into the reader’s daily life. These action steps are a welcome addition to the book, as it provides impetus and direction for the reader to take action – this way, the lessons in the book become more than just words and concepts and is turned into actual results.

Mind Secrets Exposed does not provide a quick and dirty scheme for becoming a better person – those books generally deal in myth and are typically not worth your money. Instead, Mind Secrets Exposed can turn you in a better person and a success machine with some investment in time and effort.

Beyond the book itself, Greg Frost has also included Quick Wealth System, which is a fast and easy training program on creating wealth in your life and a monthly newsletter that provides even more content dealing with success, the workings of the brain as well as a motivational and success coaching program.

http://know1self.mentis.hop.clickbank.net

The monthly newsletter, known as Success Monthly, is another highlight of Mind Secrets Exposed. It is a comprehensive guide on success, motivation and becoming an achiever and its articles and videos cover a wide range of topics that self-help enthusiasts will find incredibly useful. Probably the best feature of Success Monthly is a coaching program that aims to harness and improve your ability to achieve success and greatness. The coaching program is a great addition and supplement to the book itself, adding a more immediate and constant guide for readers who want to accomplish their goals.

Success Monthly is offered via a monthly membership scheme, but the first month is free for anyone who buys Mind Secrets Exposed. While paying a monthly fee might sound like too much of an investment for some, the content provided in the first month is enough to convince me to maintain my membership.

All in all, Mind Secrets Exposed is a fantastic addition to any library and is a must-read for anyone who is interested in unlocking the mind’s full potential. The book promises to turn you into an achiever and a person capable of accomplishing anything and it delivers on that promise in spades.

I heartily recommend this book and it’s a great investment – don’t lose out on your chance to join the ranks of the elite!

http://know1self.mentis.hop.clickbank.net

The Power of Habit Investments

One of the things I’ve learned in my last 7 years of creating new habits is the power of compound habit interest.

It sounds really obvious when you say it, but if you do something small repeatedly, the benefits accrue greatly over time. It’s obvious, but not everyone puts it into practice.

It’s like putting a little extra cash into an index investment fund … let’s say you put in just $5/day (less than you spend at Starbucks perhaps) … at the end of 20 years, you’d have almost $70,000 if you could make just 6 percent interest, and closer to $90,000 if you could make 8 percent. Change that to just $8/day, and you’re now talking about $140,000 or so. It adds up greatly over time.

The same principle applies to habits.

Let’s take a few examples:

• Spend just a few minutes a day studying Anki flashcards, and at the end of a year, you have a ton of new phrases and sentences learned of a new language. Sure, it’s not the same as being fluent, but it’s much better than you were a year ago.
• Spend just a few minutes a day doing pushups (even if you can’t do any at first), and by the end of a year, you’ll be much stronger. I’ve seen the same thing happen to me when it comes to lifting weights — I was very weak when I started, and though I’m not going to impress any weightlifters with what I can do now, I’ve made remarkable progress over time.
• I started out not being able to run 10 minutes, but started with 7 minutes. Soon I could run 10, then 12, then 15. At the end of my first year of running, I ran a marathon.

Adding little amounts over time makes a huge difference. And the benefits aren’t just the small amounts added up — there’s interest accrued as well. Running a little each day not only allowed me to run better, but I got stress relief from the running, which helped me to quit smoking. I lost weight. I felt better throughout the day. I started eating healthier.

The benefits from a small amount of investment paid off in huge dividends.

Ways to Build Up Habit Investments

If you repeat something regularly, just doing a small amount each time, it adds up hugely over time. Some ways to do that:

1. Actual money. Seriously, if you don’t have any savings yet, cut out one or two small daily expenses (Starbucks grande lattes are a good example) and instead, make regular automatic transfers each week (or every payday) to a savings account. Once you have a small emergency fund, pay off debt. Once you’ve paid off most of your debt, start investing. Your finances will improve immensely with time.
2. Healthy eating. Eating just one small healthy thing a day, if you aren’t eating healthy now, will pay off over time. Just add one fruit instead of an unhealthy snack you might have in the afternoon. Do that for a couple weeks. Then add a veggie to lunch. Do that a few weeks. Each step of the way won’t seem hard, but you’ll eventually get used to each change. Sometimes the veggie won’t be something you love, so just eat a few bites. You’ll learn to enjoy it with time. You change, little by little.
3. Waking early. Wake up just a few minutes earlier tomorrow (say 7:55 instead of 8:00), and stay at that level for a week, then another 5 minutes earlier for the next week, and so on. In less than 6 months, you’ll be waking up 2 hours earlier, and you won’t have ever really noticed it. It’ll never feel like you’re waking earlier. Most people, btw, try to do way more than this (say, an hour earlier at first) and then fail, and never figure out why.
4. Writing. If you haven’t been able to create the writing habit, just write a sentence today. I’m completely serious. Then write a sentence tomorrow. Do that for a week. Next week, write two sentences. This sound ridiculously easy, so most people will ignore this advice. But if you follow it, you’ll be writing 1,000 words per day, every day, this time next year. Maybe 2,000 per day the following year.
5. Stretching and/or yoga. I’m the world’s least flexible person (I think it’s in the Guinness Book). So now I stretch just a little each day. I bet in a a month or two, I’ll pass the guy in Luanda that’s just a little ahead of me on the flexibility list. I’ve started by just doing three yoga poses each morning.
6. Musical instrument. My wife Eva started learning to play the guitar yesterday. Just a couple chords. If she practices those two chords each day, then another chord or two when she feels pretty confident with the first two, she’ll be playing some Bach and Granados next year.
7. Meditation. I made a vow to meditate at least 3 minutes a day. That’s all I have to do, though sometimes I’ll do more. That makes it super easy to do it every day. What will I get if I keep doing that for years? I’m not sure, but I know I already have a judgment-free space, with no expectations, and it helps me to be more mindful and focused throughout the day.
8. Decluttering. Just declutter a few things every day. In a few months, you’ll have a dramatically less cluttered home.
9. Language learning. Study three cards a day with words/phrases/sentences on them. You’ll be speaking Spanish like loco in six months. (Yes, I just gave you your first Spanish investment in that last sentence.)

You get the picture.

Less-than-great Habit Investments

The habits in the last section are usually seen as good things to build up, but they’re not the only things people put into their habit banks. A few other ones that aren’t seen as good:

1. Social media sites. Checking social media on a regular basis builds up … what? Not a desirable skill, good health, mindfulness, new knowledge except perhaps what people had for lunch or what product they’ve recently launched. Just think about what you’re building up as you check these sites. The same applies to other things you might do on the Internet on a regular basis.
2. Junk food. When you eat lots of sweets, chips, fried foods, stuff with cheesy sauce, lots of fat … what are you building up? Not healthy habits. You’re building up disease.
3. Watching TV. I’m not completely against television (I love Parks & Rec, Modern Family, the Office, Downton Abbey) but when you watch a lot of it, especially flipping through all the cable TV channels, you are probably not watching the best stuff (any kind of reality TV is mind junk food, in my opinion). Think about what you’re building up with this time investment.
4. Complaining. Do you regularly complain about other people? Do you regularly dislike people, dislike your job, dislike your life? Are other people the problem? You are building up unhappiness.

These are just a few examples, but it’s worth thinking about what you’re building up over time. What we repeatedly do grows into who we are.

How to Create Habit Investments

It’s a fairly simple process that you can repeat with various types of habit investments:

1. Pick something desirable. If you repeatedly do this activity, what will it grow into? Is that what you want?
2. Do just a minute or two of it. You can’t build it all up in the next few days. That’s a good recipe for failure. Just do 1-2 minutes of it today. Smile as you do it.
3. Set a daily reminder. Let’s say you want to do it every day at about 6:30 a.m. Set a reminder for that time, and make it a priority to do it each day, just for a minute or two.
4. Watch it grow. If you just do it repeatedly, it will grow. Don’t force it. Keep the repeated activity as small as possible for as long as you can if you want it to grow (it sounds paradoxical, but it works).

A few warnings:

• Don’t worry about doing a lot of it. As you repeat this new habit, don’t worry about growing it. That’s a good way to fail. Most people fail because they try to do too much too quickly.
• Don’t worry about missing a day or two. This is another reason people fail — they miss a day or two, then just give up. If you miss a day or two or three, just start again. It doesn’t have to be a big deal.
• Don’t do a bunch at a time. Do one per week at the most. One per month is even better.

What Will You Put Into Your Bank?

You’re making daily deposits, tiny investments in who you are. What do you want to invest in?

You can invest in something that will make you live a happy, healthy life with meaning … or it can be a life of distraction and bad health. It doesn’t take aWarren Buffett decide which is a better investment.

http://zenhabits.net/bank/

Soul Development

Dr. Michael Newton added much to the research field about the development path of souls. His research was conducted with patients under the deepest levels of hypnosis so that they could access their soul memories, or in other words, their experiences that had occurred in the period between their successive lives. Dr. Newton (1998) found souls review their past lives in these periods of rest in Heaven, and study what they did right and what they could have done better, with the objective of best solving trials and tests during future lives. Of course our waking conscious does not remember any of this, so actually remembering and then implementing those plans during our life is an unsure proposition guided by the whisperings of our conscious trying to tell us to do what's right. Unfortunately many times it is simply more expedient to ignore our conscious and look out for what we think is our own self-interests. And yet from a soul's point of view, often times the goals of the soul's development are to put the needs of society and others above our self. (Consider the message of Jesus of Nazareth to turn the other cheek, etc. and you'll see that this is an age old concept wherein highly developed souls have tried to teach younger souls who still need to pass the test(s) of life so that they can move beyond this physical experience.)

A well-known psychologist could be added to the discussion of soul development though he certainly did not use the term in any of his writings. I am speaking of Dr. Abraham Maslow, who is best known for his Hierarchy of Needs Theory (1954); i.e. the Needs Pyramid. This theory is graphically represented by a pyramid that depicts one's baser physical needs at the bottom of a pyramid, such as food and physical safety while the more cognitive, spiritual and self-actualizing needs are at the top.

Maslow's theory basically stated that humans needed to satisfy their most immediate needs, represented at the lowest levels of the pyramid by life-sustaining physical and safety needs, before they could move onto their want, or non-mandatory "needs" in the middle and top of the pyramid. Maslow opined that while everyone desired to progress to the top of the pyramid by achieving self fulfillment in life, progress was often disrupted due to problems at the lower levels of the pyramid, such as financial difficulties, the loss of one's job, divorce, etc. Thus at any point in time, humans will be focused on solving their lowest-level unfulfilled needs in the Needs Pyramid before they are able to move on to those higher, more intangible needs.

While Maslow's theory has its limitations and critics, there is likely a lot of truth in the basic premise from a Western cultural perspective, which is highly materialistically focused. I can report anecdotally that I've been poor and I've been financially secure. When I was poor there was little I could focus on beyond trying to figure out how I was going to scrape together money for rent, food, and gas. Being a poor working student in college, this was not an ideal situation when what I needed to be doing was focusing on my studies and "finding" myself as a young adult. Both of the latter were disadvantaged, eventually to the point where I had to take a short break from school so I could finally solve the money problem. Once the money problem was solved, I was then able to go back and finish my college education, and as I became more stable in life, was eventually able to move onto mastering my own path towards self-actualization.

For people who want to achieve self-actualization, consider how you measure up with Maslow's (1968) fifteen common characteristics of persons who have achieved self-actualization. This could not only serve as a guide-path, but also as a self-check on your readiness to move to the next step in your (soul's) development.

1. They perceive reality efficiently and can tolerate uncertainty;
2. They accept themselves and others for the way they are;
3. They tend to be spontaneous in thought and deed;
4. They are problem-centered, vice self-centered;
5. They have an unusual sense of humor;
6. They can look at life objectively;
7. They are highly creative;
8. They are resistant to enculturation, but are not purposely unconventional;
9. They are concerned for the welfare of humanity;
10. They are capable of a deep appreciation for the basic life experience;
11. They establish deep, satisfying interpersonal relationships with a few people vice shallow, social relationships with many people;
12. They seek peak experiences in life;
13. They have a need for privacy;
14. They have democratic attitudes; and
15. They have strong moral and ethical standards.

Maslow noted that it was not necessary for a person to portray all fifteen characteristics to actually be self-actualized. Further, Maslow did not equate the attainment of self-actualization with a state of perfection. Rather, becoming self-actualized was merely representative of achieving one's own personal potential and feeling satisfied and fulfilled in his/her life (Maslow, 1954). Given this final caveat, a person may be both self actualized and yet still working towards achieving more self-development and growth in his/her life.

Now let's say that you have "passed the test" with the fifteen characteristics, above, and you feel you are either somewhat or fully self-actualized. Is your soul's path of development complete? Apparently not because you're still incarnating on Earth! So where do you go from here?

Maslow eventually updated his five-level Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid, and divided the former pinnacle, self-actualization, to include a new apex need: transcendence needs. Transcendence needs differ from self-actualization needs in that they are more spiritual and altruistic in nature. Instead of being merely concerned for one's own needs, the transcendent person is also concerned about helping others to achieve self-actualization; to help them become fulfilled in life like him/herself.

Unfortunately, Maslow estimated that we cannot help everyone achieve self-actualization because only a small minority of people are ready to achieve their self-fulfillment needs. Maslow (1954) estimated that only one percent of Westerners ever achieved self-fulfillment because of competing demands/needs in their life, and the impact of competing societal motivations, such as the attainment of wealth, etc. So take this caveat as a hint if you feel you are on the final path of soul development and desire to fulfill your transcendence needs. You cannot help everyone, so focus your time and efforts on helping those who want to be helped, or by helping society as a whole, such as by volunteering or serving others. Be secure in the knowledge that the other 99% are still walking a path at lower levels of development and while they are not ready yet, eventually all souls will be ready to move on to the next level, and if you are not there to help them along, then maybe someone that you helped will be able to step in and carry on your good works once they are ready.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Soul-Development&id=7491659

7 Steps To Setting Your 2013 Life Objectives

Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You'll also quickly spot the distractions that can, so easily, lead you astray.

Below are the 7 basic steps to setting your goals for the coming year.

You have to decide what you want.

The problem with so many people is that they do not know what they really want. Setting your goals requires you to make a decision about what you want in life and determine when you want to have achieved that thing. Get clear about what you want, but choose goals you can control. Unlike dreams, which allow you to fantasize about events over which you have no control over, goals have to do with aspects of your existence that you control and can therefore manipulate. In identifying your goal, strive for what you can create, not for what you can't. Have a good plan of attack.

Assign a timeline to your goal.

Once you have determined precisely what it is you want, you must decide on a time frame for having it. The deadline you've created fosters a sense of urgency or purpose, which in turn will serve as an important motivator, and prevent inertia or procrastination. Especially since you only have 12 months to full fill your 2013 goals, you MUST set time limits for every small step you intend to take, in order to make sure that by the end of December 2013, you have accomplished the majority - if not all - of your goals for the year.

Set goals in small increments, complete with time, dates, amount, some details.

By breaking down your goals in smaller, workable units, you are more likely to make them come true. Remember, even the greatest ones had to start somewhere. Breaking down a huge goal into more doable parts makes the entire process easier to get through. Suddenly, the vision of success by the end of 2013 is not as daunting as it seems, especially if your mini-goals for each month is accomplished diligently. All of these monthly developments, when taken as a whole, contribute to a final, ultimate result.

Plan and program a strategy that will get you to your goal.

Pursuing a goal seriously requires that you realistically assess the obstacles and resources involved, and that you create a strategy for navigating that reality. Willpower is unreliable, fickle fuel because it is based on your emotions. Your environment, your schedule and your accountability must be programmed in such a way that all three support you -- long after an emotional high is gone. Life is full of temptations and opportunities to fail. Those temptations and opportunities compete with your more constructive and task-oriented behavior. Without programming, you will find it much harder to stay the course.

Write it down

Putting your goal down on paper is more than just memorizing it. You are actually confirming your willingness to make it come true. A written list of goals is an effective reminder of what you need to do. Once you're done, write a good review of your accomplishment. A simple list on a piece of notebook paper is fine, or using a computer program to really jazz it up works just as well. You may want to hang it up somewhere, as a constant reminder to work toward your goals: inside your closet, at the back of your medicine cabinet door or on your bulletin board near your desk.

Share your goals with others

We are far more likely to stick to our plan and reach our goals if we know our friends and family support us. Being part of a team increases our determination, our stamina, and our courage. Caution: Never share your goals with anyone who may ridicule, tease or discourage you! The world is full of doubters and you have no time for them. But, find a support team, a group of cheerleaders, and a coach who will encourage you every step of the way. High achievers count on and work with other winners!

Have a system of evaluation in place

The best way to make sure that you are sticking to your goals, accomplishing them according to your deadlines and determining how realistic they actually are is to evaluate your progress. If a certain obstacle is marring your plan of attack, then edit your goals or strategies so that you can move forward. If you, however, see that you are not getting anywhere, then evaluating them will help you realize this.

Now that you have the guidelines to getting your goals, good luck on the year ahead!

http://goarticles.com/article/7-Steps-To-Setting-Your-2013-Life-Objectives/7345059/