Powerful Ways To Fire Up Your Motivation

It's so difficult to go on when everything seems to fail, isn't it?  Are there times in your life when you really want to call it "quits" because you just can't see any good results from allthe hard work you have done?
Hold your horses!
Never ever, think of giving up.  Winners never quit and quitters never win.  Take all negative words out of your mental dictionary and focus on the solutions with utmost conviction and patience. The battle is never lost until you have abandoned your vision. However, what if you are exhausted physically, mentally, and most of all emotionally?  Here are some sources of motivation to prompt you in reaching the peak of accomplishment.

1. The Overwhelming Feeling of Attaining your Desired End


2. The Reward System


3. The Powerful Force of Humanity


4. Take Care Of Your Health

Happiness To be

Happiness is a state of mind, so your state of mind at this moment makes all the difference.
You need to ask yourself, is it what you want, the thing that is going to make you happy?
If the answer is yes, does this mean that what you have must not be good enough?
We go through life searching, searching for a better job, better house, better car, better relationship, sometimes for many people this is a full time "occupation, always searching!
It seems to be a vicious circle for many of us, because the last job was the better one, now it is not, somehow it's lost its appeal, just as when you bought your car, it was going to make you happy but that was only for a short time, you soon became unhappy once you saw another newer model, so the car that was your dream car is no longer a dream.
Where does it end?
Well the answer is simple; it ends exactly where it starts, in your Mind.

How to be Happy

How To Be Outrageously Happy

You can be as happy as you want whenever you want. Zen masters have proven this - all you have to do is just "be" with whatever you have right now. Yeah, I know. Sitting on the floor contemplating your blank space may not be what you are after. Highly successful people are outrageously happy because they have fulfilling ways to meet their values. What are values? Well I am not talking about Dan Quayle and Murphy Brown, or Limp Bizkit's recent family value tour. Values are simply what are most important to you.

Do your values move you towards great possibilities? Is your energy directed towards meeting your values in ways that excite you and make you stronger, capable of going for even more? When you are clear on your values, your vision is bright, and you will feel primed to go for it.

About Self Love

How do I love myself?
Love of Self is simply a view of Self. If you view yourself with a great deal of compassion, and suspend all judgment, then replace that judgment with understanding, and compassion, you will come closer and closer to love your authentic self. So many people have taken on the views of others during their earlier years, and have not learned how to replace those views with the pure truth.
The way to do this is to immediately stop insulting yourself, cutting you down, and degrading yourself. This is paramount! Instead of saying: "I stink at this" say: "I am doing my best, and that is all that is needed." You have to bring all of the small insulting lies that you tell yourself up to your conscious awareness.
In order to truly love yourself, you must change how you view yourself, and that can only be with complete compassion, care, respect, and honestly taking a conscious effort to change the verbal abuse you dish out to yourself when you are not even aware of it most of the time.
Honor what makes you "different" because that is your unique Light that you are on this Earth to shine! Treat yourself the way you wish someone else would treat you, and always give yourself a heartfelt hug for the sacred person that you are.

Important Things to Know / Remember About Life

Important Things to Know / Remember About Life

• I love you not because who you are, but because who I am when I am with you


• There is no one in this world that worth your tears, and if they are, they will never make you cry.


• If someone loves you not in the way you would like to, it does not mean that they don not love you in their own way


• A good friend is the one that will hold your hand and will touch your heart.


• The worst way to miss someone is to sit right next to him or her, knowing you will never be with him or her.


• Never stop smiling even when you are sad. Someone might just fall in love with your smile.


• Do not waste your time with someone who does not care wasting his or her time with you.


• You might be just "a someone" in this world, but for someone, you are the entire world.


• You might need to need many "wrong" people before you will meet the "right" one. Like that, you will highly appreciate them will it will happen.


• Do not cry when it is over? Be glad that it happened.


• Do not "fight" for things to happen. The best things in life happen when you least expect them.


• Be a better person and know always where you are coming from and who you are before you meet someone new, and hope that they will know you whom you are.


• There will always be someone that will heart you, but you need to keep on trusting people? Just with more caution.

Inspired For Women

Inspired For Women
One man can make a difference. I've been saying this and writing around this subject matter for over a decade now. It is not to the exclusion of women as I originally used the phrase in reference to mankind or society if you prefer. A decade ago, my pursuit of the quest to make a difference, to be involved, to inspire ended up taking a back seat. Survival in the moment and dealing with family and health issues took the front seat. Now, most of that is behind me and to a large degree it has been women who have made the difference in my growth and healing; unique powerful, loving, nurturing women.
This post serves as a reminder, an acknowledgement, a song of praise, if you will, for women. It's important you realize just how powerful and wonderful you are as a woman, as a female, as someone who has a unique blueprint different from the male of our species. Your gift is priceless when used well with integrity and you conduct yourself from this seat of female power. It's not the media's and popular culture's representation of female wiles, cunning, and manipulation. No, it's the power of the nurturer and spiritual values.
I speak partly from my own experience that has a depth and richness that is so hard to explain. It also includes influence from historical perspectives and the recognition that almost every great man in history has attributed a large part of their success to the great woman in their life. I attribute it to the call in my heart and the need in my soul for that connection and healing balm that only the company of a woman can provide. How can words possibly express such complexity and yet such simplicity so that it is understood and owned by all women
It is my desire to empower each of you to be the greatest woman you can be. If I had any advice for your day-to-day living, I'd say look to women who are mature in experience and who have a healthy perspective on love, life, and relationships. Women who are successful in their relationships and careers without compromising the highest values that ring so true in all of our hearts.
I can also say that I have much to offer in one-on-one coaching as a result of my own life experience with women and my perspective on the unique power of women. I do this with female clients in my coaching business now and it is a huge honor for me. It pains my heart to see women limiting themselves due to poor self image and beliefs developed from family, peers, society, media and boys or men who have caused pain.
Do not hold back, be all that you are made to be.
Yes, one man can make a difference, but the truth is, Women make all the difference!
Peace, love, harmony - it is power.
Be divinely beautiful; it radiates from within.
Best wishes, Lee
Make a Difference

Love the Opportunity

Love the Opportunity
Somebody said you have to love what you do, but that is not necessarily true. What is true is that you have to love the opportunity. The opportunity to build life, future, health, success and fortune.
Knocking on someone's door or making that extra call may not be something you love to do, but you love the opportunity of what might be behind that door or call.
You can be inspired by having found something; even though you are making mistakes in the beginning and even though it is a little distasteful taking on a new discipline that you haven't learned before. You don't have to love it, you just have to learn to appreciate where you live, appreciate opportunity and appreciate the person who brought you the good news; that found you.
Appreciate the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself, appreciate the person who said, "Hey, if I can do it, you can do it."
If you will embrace the disciplines associated with the new opportunity you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow, that you go from being a skeptic to being a believer. Soon when you go out person to person, talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world.
Every person you meet - what could it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It is major stuff. In addition, sometimes in the beginning when we are just getting started we don't always see how big it is.
So, before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember all success is based on long term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude and a few stepping stones along the way. You might not like the stone you are on right now, but it's sure to be one of the stones that lead to great opportunities in the future.

Facing the Enemies Within

Facing the Enemies Within
We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe some of our fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone has told you, by what you've read in the papers. Some fears are valid, like walking alone in a bad part of town at two o'clock in the morning. However, once you learn to avoid that situation, you won't need to live in fear of it.
Fears, even the most basic ones, can destroy our ambitions. Fear can destroy fortunes. Fear can destroy relationships. Fear, if left unchecked, can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies lurking inside us.

How strong are you?

How strong are you?
I am not asking if you can carry 150 lbs. of weight. What I'm after is your strength of character. How resilient are you to hang on to your dreams amidst the raging forces of discouragement and criticisms?
There are far, too many individuals who never experienced the joy of attaining their desires because other people's influence has significantly (and sometimes negatively) affected their crucial decisions.
Are there instances in your life when other people said that you should not continue your plans because they're never got to work? What did you do? Did you continue your endeavors or did you just follow their command?
If you always adhere to other's beliefs and opinions even though they are contrary to yours, you're just torturing yourself. It is as if you don't have a mind of your own. You are like a shadow following the moves of someone else.
You may listen to other people's advices, but never let them control you. If their advices would contribute to your success and well being, then follow them. However, if they would hinder you and stray you away from what you really want in life, then you have to make a stand and pursue your heart's aspirations.
Sure there would be criticisms. However, if you always avoid them, then you will never be truly happy.
As one famous person said, "There is a sure way to avoid criticisms, be nothing and do nothing. This remedy never fails." True enough.

The Beauty of Life

An unexamined life is not worth living."-- Socrates
I have just finished reading a most astounding statement from A.H. Almaas's book Space cruiser Inquiry. In this book, which discusses the concept of open inquiry as an optimal way to get in touch with your true being, he gives a beautiful description of the beauty of life. The simplicity and beauty of this sentence struck me hard! He says, "The beauty of life is that it can be a continuous opening to the full range of experience and richness possible for the human being."
This was an extremely beautiful quote and had a very true ring to it. Life CAN be lived to be a continuous opening to the full range of experience and richness possible for the human being. In life you can find out what you're capable of doing; to continually explore, and then act on the discovery of that exploration to create more experiences to learn and grow even more. You can learn to become more flexible. You can start to experiment with your range; what you are capable of doing with your life. What you choose to do can be below the range of what you can do, but that is your choice; not a limitation that you are unaware of.
The important distinction is that you become aware of your full range of possibilities and then choose which possibility you want to act on rather than being limited because you are unaware of what you can do. Life offers us this chance to continually open up and become more aware of the powers that are residing within us. Are you using the change for this kind of growing that life offers? Or have you stopped inquiring and accepted the limited position, which tells you that you can't grow further? What you believe will determine what you do about exploring your true being and capabilities. What will you believe?

The Power of Inspiration

The Power of Inspiration

INSPIRATION can be a powerful thing. It can keep you going when all around you cry out "quit!" It is even more powerful than motivation, as motivation gives you your basic reasons to keep going--it tells you why you want to do what you do, because motivation is based on goals. These, in turn, may be based on necessity want or desire. However, inspiration fills those reasons with hope, possibility and enjoyment and keeps the "grind" from becomingt oo grindy. However, just what does inspiration consist of? I speculate two elements: vision and mission. Proverbs 29:18 says 'Where there is no vision, the people perish." A vision is the first step toward turning your motivation into inspiration. A person with a vision sees down the road. He can sense what it will be like six weeks, six months, a year, two years, five years and more ahead.
But how do you get a vision?, you ask. First, you need to narrow your perspective. You can’t attempt to "ride off in all directions at once," so to speak. Try to decide what it is you are looking for, so you'll know it when you see it. In other words, try to have in mind some general goals as to where you want to be six months a year, etc. from now. These goals will not only form the basis of your motivation but should also serve to limit to an extent the scope of your activity.
Once the vision is firmly implanted in your mind, let it become your driving force. Let the vision excite you with the possibility of its fulfillment and you will automatically begin the next step--you are on a mission. Your mission is to bring about the realization of the vision. If you keep the vision in mind, you will move forward in the mission, accomplishing enthusiasticallysystematically that which is necessary to bring the vision into reality. You will have developed a sense of excitement, importance and urgency, which will keep the fires of inspiration burning in your heart and moving you ever onward and upward.

Quotes For Positive Mind

1. Unless the secret of inward peace is also the secret of escape from fear, it does not meet a need I believe is almost the central need of mankind. If it be asked, "Why are so many people in the modern world anxious, worried, nervous, irritable, depressed, bad sleepers, and not quite well?" the answer in most cases is that they are frightened. . . . What, then, is the way to escape from the power of this ever-present enemy? I know none except learning that we are in the keeping of a God who will never desert us. . . . There is no fear where love is, and the love of God is always present. . . . Till we have faced that fact, we are not ready to understand what God does actually for those who trust in Him. But when we have learnt that truth, we may go on to say, "Come what may, we know that He will be with us and therefore need not fear." We may have to suffer in the body, but His sustaining grace will never leave us. We may lose our dear ones and so be wounded in our very hearts, but His grace will give us strength to carry even that cross. We may have to face poverty; but if so, He will do for us what He has done for thousands and teach us how to be poor and yet content. We may have to face hunger of the heart, and no one who knows what that means will ever think lightly of it; but even through that fiery trial, His love will sustain those who turn to Him.

---A. H. Gray

2. I have now reigned above fifty years in victory and peace, beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to be wanting for my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to fourteen. O man, place not thy confidence in this present world!

--- Abd-er-Rahman III

3. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

---Abraham Lincoln

Is The Glass Half-full Or Half-empty?

Keep focusing on the fullness of your life: Keep remembering your dreams, your strengths, your unique talents and skills. Be absolutely, uniquely, fully yourself and you have everything you need to create the life of your dreams. -Marc Allen

The reason you're not living your dreams is because not all parts of you are in alignment with your promise.

Your dream will not actualize until you have all the skills you need. Since it takes time to cultivate the full glass, you will find your glass only half-full or half-empty.
As you work on developing all your skills, you will also be buffeted by stronger forces.
If you want to be a writer, you have to learn the craft. Assuming you know how to be clear and expressive, you may still find yourself unpublished. So you need the additional skill of learning how to market your writing.

Only when all your skills are complete will you be able to fully express your dream.
This gap between talent and opportunity can be bridged once you discover what you need to learn.

While you're in this state of trying to develop the entire experience, you will face opposition. Stronger ego states and life conditions will press hard against you.
Those ego-states concerned with approval, safety, and control will keep you away from cultivating your dream.
Similarly environmental conditions arising from past experiences will distract you.
These two conditions are sufficient to keep most people living inauthentic lives, where they do what works but not what gives them true self-expression and joy.
It is at these times of trial and hardship that you may be tempted to focus on looking at the glass as half-empty.

Yet the only way to raise your child-genius into full maturity is to persist.
You have to hold your vision despite low moods, alternate desires, and pressing circumstances.
Talent is seldom nurtured in ideal environments. Usually, you have to tend the small flame of your dreams in the face of strong winds. Only by persisting will you eventually have a fire greater than an opposing draft.
You keep your dreams alive by focusing on how far you've come.
You have to hold your vision and practice it.
When you persist in this way, you'll move closer to your goals.
When you persist long enough, you'll find yourself living your dream.

Resource Box
Saleem Rana got his Masters degree in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. Discover how to create a remarkable life
Copyright 2004 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass thisarticle on to your friends, or use it in your ezine ornewsletter. It's a shareware article.

Why Do Some Affirmations *Work* - and Others Dont?

By definition,an affirmation is a statement repeated time and again either verbally or mentally-or written down. The words of the affirmation statement - in themselves -when spoken,thought of, or written *without* a pictorial (visualized) or emotional connection- make a very weak affirmation.

Affirmations, when worded correctly -- and when emotionally charged - are able to tap into the unlimited creative power ofyour subconscious mind, and manifest your desires.

Affirmations are not all created equal. Some are of course, better than others. When you examine the structure of these power affirmations, you too, can learn how to create your own powerful affirmations foryour specific purposes.

Positive Mental Attitude

Look at this glass on the table in front of you. Is it half-full or is it half-empty?
Now, do you realize that it is entirely for you to decide what the answer to this question is going to be.
The choice is yours.
So, the very same reality can be seen in totally opposite ways: in a positive way, and in a negative way.
And there is always a positive side to any thing, any situation, any event, any person.
Look at the world in a different way. Try to find out that positive side. At first, you might literally have to dig it out, but after some time, it automatically appears to you. In fact, you eventually only see the good side.
Everything is beautiful, "everybody's beautiful, in their own way", as the song goes.
So we invite you to try our 3-step positive mental attitude formula. In any situation, however apparently bad:
1. Keep cool and coolly examine the situation. Turn it upside down, inside out, downside up and outside in.
2. Suddenly you realize it could have been worse. Find out how and why it could have been worse.
3. Finally, the good side of it will just appear to you.This can happen gradually or in a flash. It all depends on parts 1 and 2.
Soon you'll see all things and all people in a positive way What you call "failure" is in fact simply a new opportunity to try again and do better than if you had "succeeded" in the first place.
Now, have you noticed that a rich person has more of a chance of getting a bank loan than a poor person? In otherwords: you must have money to be given MORE money!
In the same way, if you are a "happy person", you'll get MORE happiness.
As the great American poet Theodore Roethke said: "The right things happen to the happy man"
Don't worry, whatever type of person you are, you can easily turn yourself into a "happy person".
I can almost see your wry, "easier-said-than-done" smile.
But please, just try our 3-step formula and soon, very soon, in fact much sooner than you think, you'll take up a sturdy and radiant Positive Mental Attitude to life and THAT is the only key to wellness, happiness, and a longer life.

I Know I Can, I Know I Can

I'm sure most of you remember the children's book about The Little Train That Could. I have to admit that at my age, I don't remember the exact title or exactly how the story goes, but I don't recall the idea in the story.
Basically, if you think you can, you can, but if you KNOW you can, you WILL.
By setting a goal, having a burning (I said BURNING) desire to achieve that goal, and daily affirming that goal, there is no way you can fail. You must stay focused on your goal and remain commited to reaching it.
Write your goal(s) down on paper and place them where you can read them every day. Remember, we are staying focused here. Read them out loud to yourself. If you memorize them, read them anyway.
Visualize your goals. Find pictures to represent your goals and put them up where you can see them every day. Can't find a picture? Draw one!
The more you commit yourself to a goal, the easier it is to discover the steps you need to take to reach it. Look at steps that fail as successful learning tools, stepping stones along your chosen path.
Take charge of your life NOW! It's the only one you have.

Power of Positive Beliefs

I am an educator as well as a coach and am interested in what it is that brings out the best in the people with whom I work. Over the last few years I have read a great deal of research on the power of beliefs. I am convinced that it is essential that I hold, and communicate to my students or clients that I believe in their ability to learn, to heal, and to grow.
We have to hold and project these beliefs even when, or perhaps, especially when the person we are working with does not hold them. In a recent study it was found that teenagers from economically disadvantaged families were more likely to attend college if their parents, especially their mothers, were optimistic about the teens chances of enrolling in college.
I read once about a teacher who was given a list of student names with numbers ranging from 125 to180 after their names at the beginning of the school year. Believing that she had been given a class of gifted students, she worked hard all year to provide opportunities for these students to do well. At the end of the year she asked for another class of gifted students since they had all performed outstandingly. She was told that the numbers were their locker numbers, not their IQs.
In transpersonal therapy the belief held by the therapist or healer about their client is an important component of the therapy. There is solid research to back this up. Marilyn Schlitz at the Institute of Noetic Sciences is carrying out some interesting research on intentionality, which she defines as the "projection of awareness, with purpose and efficacy, toward some object or outcome." In his review of the research on human interconnectedness, Braud claims that the mental and emotional processes of one person can directly influence the mental or physical processes of another person. Hibbard claims that she experiences "the use of intentionality in psychotherapy as an extremely potent form of spiritual healing." Benor, who began as a skeptic of spiritual healing says "Just holding an intent brings healing energies and spiritual awareness into the therapy."
Elizabeth Targ refers to medical research that demonstrates the powerful positive effects of the belief of the physician in the treatment offered. She also cites Braud and Schlitz' work on distant intentionality which dramatically demonstrates the ability of one person's thoughts to influence the physical state of another person.
She urges medical practitioners to "consciously activate their own images of wellness for each patient with whom they work." In order to help our students or our clients to let go of self-defeating beliefs and to hold life-affirming beliefs, we have to hold those for ourselves as well as about our clients. I use Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), which is a powerful process for reducing or eliminating old, unhealthy, negative beliefs and allowing life-affirming beliefs to surface.

Quotes on SUCCESS

Try not to be a person of success.  But rather a person of value.     - Unknown
Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.     - Norman R. Augustine
Unless a man undertakes morethan he possibly can do, he will never do all that he can.     - Henry Drummond
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you make them feel.     - Carol Buchner
Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.     - Norman R. Augustine
Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.     - Unknown
Do what you can,with what you have,where you are.     - Theodore Roosevelt
One never noticeswhat has been done;one can only seewhat remains to be done.     - Marie Currie
Any coward can fight a battle when he's sure of winning; but give me the man who has the pluck to fight when he's sure of losing.     - George Eliot
 
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.     - Thomas Edison
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.                    - Henry Ford
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.     - John C. Maxwell
The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.     - William James

 

Criticism

One thing, I really have a problem with is criticism. Oh, I can do the criticism. That I can do. It is too easy (but that's not today's point!) Receiving it, well that's another story. Therefore, today, from now on, I thought I need to take it like a mature, grown person. I don't want it to bother me so much. How do I do that? Well I started reading up on the subject and this is what I gathered.
This is what criticism does to you.

• Criticism is nothing more that an observation made by another person, one that we do not necessarily agree with.


• Criticism is directed at our actions and the way we think.


• Criticism makes us defensive and wanting to justify our actions. It makes us want to point the finger and so on...


• Our defense mechanism takes an enormous amount of mental energy, which usually leaves us angry, hurt, and with negative feelings towards the other person.

Anamchara - Beyond Positive Thinking

Anamchara - Beyond Positive Thinking

One of the most well known books ever written on success is James Allan's "As a man thinketh."
This book advocates thinking in a positive manner in order to create the life you dream of having. It suggests all you have to do is change your internal dialogue and you can begin to adopt a successful mindset. After an unspecified times you, will then "has it all."
For some this approach has undoubtedly worked.
For many others it has manifestly not done so. There are more books written and read on positive thinking than on most any other subject. This has made some difference to people's lives but real change has not manifested for too many others.
I think this is because the writing of James Allen has been understood only at a surface level. In his wonderful book "As a man thinketh," he writes: -
"As a man thinketh in his heart so is he, not only embraces the whole of a mans being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance."
Note the language.
It is a form of language you do not hear in today's personal growth market. I think this is why it is not so well understood. James Allen clearly states, "As a man thinketh in his heart?" He is, to my mind, talking about clearly making an emotional connection with one's heart.
This is where all positive change begins.
The heart speaks to one's being and not only to the intellect. The intellect is only a part of the wholeness of our humanity. Thinking positive thoughts can go some way to creating a wonderful experience of what it means to be alive. However, being alive is not just an intellectual experience. It is a when fully allowed a free flowing experience of delight.
The heart knows things that the head can never imagine.
The heart embraces the imagination. James Allen uses the word "embrace" in the above passage. The mind does not embrace. It rationalizes. The mind operates in a linear fashion. It moves from point A to point B. An embrace is something that encircles you. A circle is complete it is not something that is partial. A circle is more holistic.
James Allen goes on to say that this "thinketh of the heart" is so comprehensive it affects all conditions and circumstances. It is in effect transformative. It changes ones relationship to life and living.
I personally think James Allan would have been better naming his wonderful book "As a man feels." This I think would guide many others to the experience of "embracing a man's being. It would more clearly focus one on the free flow of feeling within the body allied to ones purpose and values.
This connection with your purpose and values at the heart level raises passion. This is the real power that will "reach out to every condition and circumstance." This will be a warmer and more powerful experience than the cool application of simply repeating positive words and phrases.
Remember you are already forever enough no matter how much positive thinking you may apply to your being. Remember that the Blessing is already here and you are it.
Tony Cuckson is an Anam Cara. This Celtic term means "Soul Friend." He specializes in providing insight for the spiritual journey, Blessings for YOU, words of wisdom and finding inner peace. Visitors to Irish Blessings Matter website and Tony's Blog get the opportunity to develop a purpose driven life through articles, newsletters and other programs.