There are lots of self-improvement advice available, but which ones are the best? Everyone would want to know what the best-kept secrets are to improving the self. All you have to do is to look in the right places.
A really good self-improvement advice is discipline! Discipline does not mean you lose freedom. One habit down means you get tenfold the benefit. It all depends on how much you are actually willing to let go of some things so you can gain something that would benefit your life more.
Now start by actually starting something! Whenever you are procrastinating, it is important to take a deep breath and avoid thinking negative thoughts. These negative thoughts can affect the way you do whatever you need to be done.
The next step is to try to enjoy what you are doing. Do you remember a time when you started on a hobby and you were able to stay up all night doing it? You can always find ways to motivate yourself to do something. You can think about the reward you’re going to get at the end of the day, whether it is money, personal satisfaction, or something you are willing to do for yourself.
Another unique self-improvement advice is to visualize. This may sound so simple to do, but it is definitely effective. Visualization is the process of making a mental image with the goal of rebooting the mind. Visualization is based on the knowledge that the mind has a powerful effect on the body.
Visualizing can help you actualize what you tell yourself: “I can do this!” The first step is to fully relax yourself by imagining all muscles beginning to contract from your forehead down to your shoulders until your toes. The next step is to imagine you are crossing something like a bridge, to indicate to yourself that you are crossing over to your subconscious. You may then imagine the desired outcome of reaching your goals. The final step is to imagine that you have already reached that desired outcome.
A similar self-improvement advice is to try hypnosis. A therapist can help you with this. During a normal mental state, many individuals will not be able to admit certain bad habits. When you subconsciously face what needs to be improved in your life, you will have gotten rid of those negative habits you were never even aware.
The final self-improvement advice is meditation. This is very linked to the previous techniques mentioned. When you are trying to improve yourself and caught up in a roller coaster ride at the same time, meditation can help you clear your mind. A clearer mind means you’ll be able to focus more on yourself and what you really want out of life.
To meditate, keep away from distraction and take long deep breaths while releasing all tense muscles. Mentally ask questions regarding who you really are. Ask yourself what you like to do, what made you proud of yourself, how content you really are in life and what is more important to you, and try to answer these questions everyday with actions.
Any self-improvement advice will only be effective if you are determined to change. You are your own boss when it comes to self-improvement. So be open to possibilities as much as possible!
By: Sarah Pierce
About the Author:
Filed under Improvement by on Jul 28th, 2010. 
Self Storage does not mean that you need to spend a lot of money on renting a space that is more than what you need and for which you might have to wait. Today, self storage is all about the customer and his wants.
Storage warehouses have realized the importance of what the customer seeks and when.
What Does The Customer Seek?
Typically you would require a small storage space when you need to store some shopping bags while on a return trip from the mall. Another scenario is when you need a large space to shift your furniture and other household items. In this case a larger space is required.
Both these ends can be met with today’s self storage options. The smallest size starts from a 50 sq ft of space. The proportions increase and you can look into spaces from a walk-in closet to large one-car garage sized room. With these options it is not difficult to find something that rightly fits all your requirements and that too without any notice. All you would need to do is call the storehouse and tell them of your needs.
With the problem of size taken care of you can think about other issues. If you need to store some atmosphere-sensitive items like priceless paintings, some photography equipment or even an old heirloom you can choose climate controlled self storage. This allows you to set the temperature of the unit to suit your item. This atmosphere will guarantee that nothing will damage your belongings while under the roof of the self storage warehouse.
If you are looking to park your large vehicle or even your boat or yacht, these warehouses have the perfect alternatives. There are large enough spaces inside the building for boats and even outside with shelter for cars. With these spaces you can rest assured that you do not need to leave these very costly items behind if you are thinking of taking a trip.
Apart from these features, the other best feature can be termed as security. Security of items in the warehouse is given the utmost importance. That is the reason why these storehouses have 24 hour surveillance and are electronically monitored day and night. Only authorized persons are allowed entry inside the premises and tenants holding a valid ID card will be given access inside the inner walls. With this top-notch security in place you can rest assured that your belongings are perfectly safe.
Perhaps the only other thing that can sway a customer’s mind is the price that is charged. Here also you as a customer are given a lot of options which are hard to say no to.
Only a nominal monthly fee is charged for a longer use of the self storage unit. If you are renting it by the hour, the prices are irresistible. With discount options and other surprise bonus features, these storehouses allow the customer to feel like a king. Price might just prove to be a turning point if you are still undecided about your options.
With so many features and benefits, self storage is the best place to dump all your worries and keep your home clutter-free and spacious, inside as well as outside.
By: Randy Hudson
About the Author:
Filed under Improvement by on Jul 28th, 2010.
When starting out the the area of self development and growth, one of the most important and basic skills to learn is the skill to deal with issues in your life.
Many sources often overlook the process of how to change. The process is long and hard, and often you will lose motivation and forget your goals for self improvement. While you may yearn for instant gratification and instant change, the reality is that it just wont happen overnight. Habits take a long time to form and break; deeper psychological issues that a long time to resolve.
Often when people deal with their issues, they’re dealing with it in a LOGICAL manner. This doesn’t motivate you because motivation is EMOTIONAL. When you feel emotionally affected towards the issue, you will have the drive to resolve the emotions. This is the basis for my model of dealing with issues.
Without further ado, here it is: Dealing with issues, the 4 steps.
1. Figure out what the issue is.
This first point is ridiculously obvious, but incredibly important and oftentimes looked over. In many instances, we believe that we’re dealing with one problem when in reality we’re actually facing problems with a deeper inner issue.
For example, in the world of dating and relationships, the actual act of meeting members of the opposite *** can be quite daunting. The possibility of rejection, the fear that they will dislike you is present. No one likes to think that they are incompetent with the opposite sex, and this is the issue that may arise and challenge them if they approach and get rejected. So they sit at the back of the bar with their friends talking about how they’re ‘pimps’ and ‘could pick up anyone in this bar’ but ‘they don’t want to’ because ‘no one here is worth it’.
What is happening here is an avoidance of the real issue: they depend on other’s approval and reactions to feel good about themselves. An issue of low self esteem and low self confidence.
This issue would not be realised without some serious hard thinking and the ability to see things for what they really are. Your mind and ego will throw up a million different cognitions to throw you off the real issue because the truth hurts your sense of self.
This first point is ridiculously simple yet hard to realize.
2. Experience the issue.
This is different. I swear by this technique 100%.
When you figure out what the issue is, it’s going to try and hide. It’s going to throw up excuses as to why you have those cognitions. You’re going to want to avoid the issue. Yeah that’s right, you know what I’m talking about. This is the nerd realising that they **** with women but rationalising it as due to their studies or the fact that they “don’t have time”, then using that as a constant excuse not to GO OUT and MEET women. Or the woman who has emotional issues that affect her relationships but blames her relationship problems on her looks.
By experience the issue I mean to feel it fully. You KNOW it’s there, you aren’t going to avoid it. You just broke up with your partner? It feels crap. Don’t avoid having the feelings. You’re scared of chatting up that cutie? Don’t avoid the issue. Immerse yourself in the experience of feeling like that.
Only then do you have a solid base for your motivation to get the problem fixed.
3. Act on resolving the issue
After experiencing the feelings that you don’t want to feel, make a decision to ACT upon the issues. After all, just pointlessly making yourself feel bad is… pointless. So what did you do? Make a commitment to take steps forward in solve the issue. If you’re afraid that people will ‘reject’ you then approach people until you emotionally realise that ‘rejection’ by a stranger means nothing more than the fact that you approached them in the wrong way. If you’re avoiding exercise because of an underlying issue of laziness, get out there and exercise! Do you actually WANT to be unhealthy? How does being unhealthy feel?
Experiencing the issue should give you the MOTIVATION to ACT on the issue. If you don’t act, you’ll just stay the same. Do you really want to feel the way you felt when you were experiencing the issue? I doubt it.
4. Figure out your other issues
In self improvement, it is critical to remember that your problems will NEVER end and you will ALWAYS have issues to deal with. Reality is harsh.
If you’re serious about improving yourself, keeping this in mind will help you a lot. You will always have something to fix. Take a break once in a while, moderate how much you work on yourself, but never forget that you always have something to improve. Read “The way of the superior man” by David Deida. It gives a good description of this point.
By: Solace Swanson
About the Author:
Filed under Improvement by on Jul 28th, 2010.
This article explores the importance of reflective practice as a tool for school self-improvement by looking at the relevance and implications of the reflective practice cycle.
The article is structured under the following headings:
- ON REFLECTING
- THE RELEVANCE OF REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
- WHAT IS THE REFLECTIVE PRACTICE CYCLE?
- WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF RP FOR A SCHOOL?
- CONCLUSION
ON REFLECTING …
Have you ever, having returned from a date with someone new, sat down and dissected the events of the evening in minute detail? Perhaps you have wondered whether a comment you made could have had an unintended meaning or was perhaps misunderstood.
Have you ever worried whether you have misread your date’s body language or – particularly if the date goes awry, pondered over what went wrong and how to avoid making the same mistakes next time?
This is perhaps an overly negative view of a possibly lovely evening, but it does serve to highlight the fact that we all, in our everyday lives, take time to ponder and reflect on things that have happened during our day.
Whether this is done consciously or unconsciously, we all respond to circumstances by thinking about them and processing the events through memory and recall. And more often than not, these thoughts create decisions and these decisions create choices which determine future actions.
Thus, we may return from a holiday, armed with photographs and tales, and while reflecting, may decide to return there again next year, or perhaps, because things went horribly wrong, opt for a better travel agent, or different destination.
Or perhaps, as a parent returning from a tour of a few prospective schools for your child, you have sat down to discuss the options open to you. You recall each school visited, and remember the impact each may have had. You weigh the pros and cons of each, consider each scenario from a range of perspectives, and finally make a decision that is not rushed into.
Think of times, recent and past, where you have stopped to reflect and think about an experience. Here “thinking about” and “remembering” are not synonymous: when we remember we recall events and details; when we “think about” them we employ our critical thinking faculties, using analysis and evaluation, synthesis and reasoning. We ask questions and attempt to find answers; we plan and construct possibilities; we process, deconstruct and assess the outcomes of ideas and strategies. From this, we are able to articulate choices that need to be made and possible ways of implementing those choices.
So, in an attempt to find a reasonable definition of the process of reflecting, let us use this simple formula:
REMEMBERING AND THINKING ABOUT + MAKING CHOICES AND PLANNING = REFLECTING
We all, in some form or another, think about our experiences. Reflective Practice, however, is a means of providing EVIDENCE for such thinking and reasoning. It is a RECORD of the ways that you have thought about and reflected on an experience.
THE RELEVANCE OF REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
I would like to make the assertion that school improvements would be more profound if all schools adopted reflective practice as daily habit.
I am not alone in my thinking:
“Critical reflection upon experience continues to be an effective technique for professional development.” Kettle B., & Sellars, N. (1996). The development of student teachers practical theory of teaching. Teaching and Teacher Education, 12(1), 1-24. EJ 526 790
“By its nature, the reflective practice cycle causes teachers to step back and critically reflect not only on how they teach, but also on why they teach in a particular way.” Schon, D.A. (1996). Educating the reflective practitioner: Toward a new design for teaching and learning in the professions. San Francisco: Jossey
“Next year is my final year and I feel moreonfident and motivated in my studies since completing this module and have learnt a lot about myself and my learning style, through keeping the journal and I am going to start keeping one permanently so my reflective learning process can be enhanced. I now know the skills that graduate employers will be looking for and I must have them to get a good job – my action plan will help me to do this.” Student, Napier University
“The primary benefit of reflective practice for teachers is a deeper understanding of their own teaching style and ultimately, greater effectiveness as a teacher. Other specific benefits noted in current literature include the validation of a teacher’s ideals, beneficial challenges to tradition, the recognition of teaching as artistry, and respect for diversity in applying theory to classroom practice.” Freidus, H. (1997). The telling of story: Teachers knowing what they know. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Chicago, IL. ED 409 274
“The ability to think about what one does and why–assessing past actions, current situations, and intended outcomes–is vital to intelligent practice, practice that is reflective rather than routine.” Journal article by Hilda Borko, Paul Michalec, Jean Siddle, Maria Timmons; Journal of Teacher Education, Vol. 48, 1997
“The primary benefit of reflective practice for teachers is a deeper understanding of their own teaching style and ultimately, greater effectiveness as a teacher. Other specific benefits noted in current literature include the validation of a teacher’s ideals, beneficial challenges to tradition, the recognition of teaching as artistry, and respect for diversity in applying theory to classroom practice.” Hurst, B., Wilson C., & Cramer, G. (1998). Professional teaching portfolios. Phi Delta Kappan, 79(8), 578-82. EJ 563 868 “If schools are to change for the better, they need to become places where teachers can be reflective” At the Heart of Teaching: A Guide to Reflective Practice (McEntee, et. al., 2003)
“In order for a teacher to grow, learn and excel, she must periodically stop and examine herself, her educational goals and her teaching practices. She must ask herself and her students questions and struggle with them to find answers. Inquiry & reflective practice are instrumental tools for teachers to change, improve and hone their philosophy and teaching practices. It also serves as teaching method that capitalizes on student interests, curiosity and the idea that students learn better when they construct their own knowledge.” GEMMA CLASING, M.A.Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) Masters of Education program. “Being reflective is a key aspect of professional development. For it to be effective this reflective process needs to be cyclical.” [http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/] Practitioner action research creates a greater knowledge of self and situation
[http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/]
There is a wealth of documentation supporting the notion that reflective practice is key, not only to professional development, but also to raising standards. Even a cursory search of the Dfes Standards
Site website will return 500 references to recent policy making and government initiatives confirming, not only the value of reflective practice, but also the need for both students and teachers to be involved in the reflective practice process.
Assessment For Learning programmes all over the country will have to, at some point, acknowledge the importance of reflection and review.
It is impossible to separate AFL from reflection, as the ability to reflect will very much influence key areas like self and peer-assessment. But reflective practice is not confined to AFL: all components of school life can be improved through RP – from the teaching support staff to the administration team and the governing body. Everyone involved in the process of RP can use that process to improve conditions of work, to determine attitudes and morale, to concentrate attention to detail and use introspection as a means of self improvement.
Copyright (c) 2009 Positively MAD
By: Alan Pritchard
About the Author:
Filed under Improvement by on Jul 28th, 2010.
Everyone has moments when self-doubts, worry about accomplishments, and rumination about self-worth or intrusive thoughts float through our mind when facing a demanding task. Although, you are highly focused, tenacious, and conscientious towards your goals these fleeting moments can hamper your goal achievement.
When you are diligent and meticulous in the pursuit of your goals, reflect on your accomplishments to remind yourself to refocus your attention and reaffirm your intent.
Reminding yourself to do what needs to be done when conditions are most auspicious frees you to use your time wisely. Since there is truly nothing to worry, ruminate or fret about, no worrisome thoughts can derail your otherwise well-honed goal achievement process. The focus and dedication you exhibit while pursuing your purpose will guarantee that you leave no responsibility untended and ultimately you accomplish more than you expected.
Left unattended for what it is, self-doubt gives rise to various feelings and emotions which we then either cling to or resist, rather than processing our thoughts and acknowledging the misconceptions we have created. If we let the feelings pass through our awareness consciously, fully feeling and releasing them, self-doubt is avoided. The seeds of self-doubt are a result of early childhood experiences.
People with chronic self-doubt are merely those who have remained unaware of how to successfully release doubts and emotions. With such misconceptions, doubt is either deeply identified with as the ’self’ or is seen as the ‘enemy.’ Yet, self-doubt is a very healthy benchmark for the need of change and growth.
Successfully embracing and resolving self-doubt, so that a new, higher understanding can be reached is the way to avoid it; as well as a way out. Self-doubt is not something to be avoided nor identified with. Self-doubt can be welcomed, embraced and intimately known as one does with a good friend, who shares their secrets of transforming that will change your life.
If anything can be referred to as the ’cause’ of self-doubt then, it is the lack of consciousness of individuality. From the literature of historical Wisdom traditions such as Zen and Vedanta, to the annals of modern developmental psychology, evidence clearly shows that individuals who have evolved to the higher stages of consciousness (not ’states of consciousness,’ which are only temporary) suffer less from troubling emotions. Consciousness is the only genuine long-term solution to dealing with self-doubt.
It is understood that this explanation is not the popular one, however, it is the one that can truly set you free. How? You might ask. The answer is: If you understand that you have in fact been creating absolutely everything you have been experiencing, you are able by acknowledging your responsibility to un-create [transform] any negative emotion which creates the plethora of so-called mental disorders. Responsibility without blame and constant surrender rather than resistance is the ‘way out.’ Self-doubt can be fully and permanently transformed–a.k.a.–Healed.
By: Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD
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Filed under Improvement by on Jul 28th, 2010.
To experience self pity is to feel sorry for yourself. Self pity tends to be stultifying and inactive and can be likened to being caught in quicksand, slowly wallowing, then drowning in a morass of shame, self doubt and negative self talk.
It is a very powerful emotion. Yet, when we are feeling self pity, we rarely express it to others as, I am feeling sorry for myself. It is most frequently observed in people with low self esteem.
Instead, we tell the story of the situation that has happened to us, and which provokes the feeling, and our over-riding self pity encourages the listener to collude, or join together, with us.
Collusion in self pity is like forming a conspiracy together. The self pity needs to be fed in order to exist, so it requires complicity and agreement, both from within us and from others in order to stay alive. This in turn, fuels our sense of pity for ourselves, keeping us trapped.
Here is a little story which ably demonstrates this principle.
An old American Indian Grandfather was teaching his grandson about life.
“Inside each one of us there are two wolves constantly fighting”, he said.
“One of the wolves is positive and is filled with peace, calm, love and kindness. The other wolf is negative and filled with fear, anxiety, self pity and self doubt”.
“Grandfather”, said the boy. “If the wolves are always fighting, which one will win?”
“The one you feed the most”, said the Grandfather.
How can we choose to walk down a different path?
How do we choose not to feed the negative, all devouring wolf within us?
As the old saying goes, “Misery loves Company”.
As this powerful feeling evokes a reciprocal response from others, then treading the pity path can become a powerful habit. As with all habits, if it is indulged and well fed it can become tenacious and prevent us from choosing a better pathway.
Choice is a gateway which opens many possibilities for action.
Unfortunately when we go through the gateway and tread our way down the path to self pity, we prevent ourselves from seeing the other gate which leads to the pathway marked positive action, understanding and contentment.
Sometimes the habit of self pity becomes deeply entrenched and we fail to recognise that we have fallen into the pit of feeling sorry for ourselves.
However, once we recognise that we have this tendency to deal with situations in this way, we can often detect when we are swimming in the pity pool and haul ourselves painfully out of it, after swimming for a while.
An effective tool is to write it all down, under the heading, I Feel Sorry for Myself Because…..
Put the list aside overnight and read it out to yourself the next day. Often you can see more clearly that some of these ideas can be dealt with through action, or through grief, some through talking them out, some can just be crossed off the list, while others incur horrible embarrassment.
Have Courage and Be an Enabler
It can be very powerful to help someone to see that self pity is the name for the feelings they are having.
Trying to talk to someone who is drowning in self pity about positive opportunities can be like waving a flag from the beach to help a drowning man instead of swimming out with a lifeline.
My experience has been that to offer the lifeline to someone, in the form of actually naming the feeling or experience as self pity, can raise huge amounts of anger initially.
It takes courage and a certain amount of love and concern for the person. Often we come away from being with someone who is fully engaged in self pity, with a sense of unease and shame.
We recognise this because we know we would rather avoid them, than collude with them again. It doesn’t make us feel good about ourselves either.
However, the sheer truth of it is often received later as a positive experience.
Help your child to avoid walking the pathway to self pity.
* Don’t model this behaviour yourself.
* Discourage sulking.
* Enable your child to name his feelings.
* Provide opportunities for quiet, gentle, safe discussion.
* Build up your child emotionally.
The difference between self pity and grief and sorrow
There is a need to differentiate between self pity and hurt and emotional pain.
There are many times when the appropriate response to a situation is sadness, grief and sorrow.
This is more easily recognised as we usually express this to others using language such as, I feel as though my heart is breaking, or I never imagined I could feel this much sadness.
Active listening allows us to hear the pain within this and also allows for the expression of it. Grief dissipates over time as one grieves and allows the grief.
It is important in our care for others as well as ourselves that we understand, recognise and know the difference between self pity and grief.
By: Helen R Williams
About the Author:
Editor Consistent Parenting Advice.com
http://www.consistent-parenting-advice.com/index.htmlI believe that being a consistent parent is both vitally important and totally necessary to ensure a happy family life. However, becoming a consistent parent is rather like trying to push water uphill if we are not consistent within our selves. This website addresses HOW to adopt a firm, clear, consistent parenting approach, while enabling you to enhance and increase your emotional well-being.
Filed under Improvement by on Jul 23rd, 2010.
There are so many self-improvement programs and authors that it can be hard to know exactly which program or book might be right for you. Also, many people will read a book and be disappointed when their life remains the same afterwards.
What are some good guidelines when judging a program or a book?
Well, number one is its simplicity. There is no reason to buy a book that you cannot understand or to try a program whose strategies simply will not work in your everyday life. Simplicity is important so that you can start as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the sooner you will see improvement in yourself and you will most likely stay more motivated and continue with the program.
Second, it must actually work. There is no use implementing a strategy that is full of holes. Every year there are new fads that fade out over time. Real success programs and books provide information that will work this year and ten years from now. A really good program is worth the investment because it will benefit you for many, many years.
Third, it must be easily accessible to you. There is no use for a seminar to attend that is half-way around the country because you will have to wind up spending twice the amount after paying for a hotel and airfare. And let’s get real. Most people who are looking to improve their lives may not have the $ 1,000 or more that a seminar will cost.
Choose wisely.
By: Bryan Appleton
About the Author:
Filed under Improvement by on Jul 23rd, 2010.
Going out with your friends is a good time, sometimes they can be the best memories in fact they can be a life time of great memories or it could be something that you never want to remember ever again; and it could have been all avoided if you would not have drank so much or would have decided to have a designated driver then your whole future could have been different because once you get a DUI things just get worse and worse. All because you wanted to have a couple a beers and possible a mixed drink or two now your entire driving record is ruined, plus now you have a felony against you and you might have to do some time plus a healthy fine and your insurance just went insane; now was not that a great Friday night let us do it again. Well now you can guess what you need, and that is a very reputable DUI attorney to get you the least possible time that the court has in store for you and we can tell you that without a good DUI lawyer defending you, you might not walk out of the court room, scarred yet, well you should be and it will give you second thoughts about the next time that you go out and yeah party!
And once this things happens it can effect so many other things, like when you fill out a job application, question number 9, have you or have you ever had a felony or been charge with anything other than a driving citation; well what are you going to do lie about everything here and when they find out the truth you will be FIRED!
Not to be so blunt but it just is not worth it now is it when so much or your future is effected just for a fun evening out with the buddies; from now on when everyone goes out to have fun there has got to be one of the group that is a goody two shoes that does not drink, even if you have to make friends with one just to have around; yeah I know that sounds cruel but you need to make some choices here and it definitely cannot be repeated after something like this.
Go dancing with your friends and your girl friend and have some good clean fun possibly make a home party and dance and eat a lot of food, go swimming and screaming make new friends instead of going out and trying to find more trouble than you need; avoid getting a ticket at all cost because the cops will not let you go, they are relentless and want you to fail, prove them wrong.
Now that you have made some good decisions we are proud of you and so is your family and friends, nothing can get into your way if you do not let it; get some excellent education a great job and move forward with providing for your new future and a wonderful new family that you can make.
By: Connor R Sullivan
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Filed under Improvement by on Jul 23rd, 2010.
Are you where you want to be? The answer to that question can be found in the thousands of books and articles on self-improvement. Human beings by their nature are wired for self-improvement.
What separates those who are more successful from those who are not is possibility thinking. Being able to think outside of the box helps to look at the same situation with a different lens or filter. Marcel Proust once wrote that the True voyage of discovery is not seeking new landscapes, but seeing with new eyes.
Bottom line is that To see differently, we must think differently.
During the last three decades, I have observed that people will embrace misery over joy and scarcity over abundance. Within my practice as a business coach, these beliefs that are reflected through attitudes demonstrated through behaviors and create limitability thinking.
Children are conditioned to this type of thinking because possibility thinkers take too much time away from the already overloaded public education daily schedule. As these individuals transition into their post secondary experiences, limitability thinking is encouraged because to disagree with the “knowledgeable” professors may result in poor grades. Now as adults, they are fully conditioned to think inside the box.
Possibility thinking involves risk, reflection and resolve. Thinking outside of the box is risky because you might fail. However, most agree from educational psychologists to successful entrepreneurs that we learn more from our failures than never trying at all. John Maxwell wrote an entire book about the benefits of failure in Failing Forward.
Possibility thinking demands reflection and specifically self-reflection. This skill set is within the realm of what some call critical thinking skills. Again, reflection takes time and does include some specific skill sets including the ability for self-reflection by asking questions from an internal perspective.
Finally, possibility thinking includes resolve. Taking the easy road of doing the same old thing hoping for different results is far easier than looking for a new road, a new direction. Also, years of conditioning make it much easier to fall back into the old habit of not taking risks and not taking the time for reflection. Possibility thinkers are committed in their resolve to continually think about the what ifs as they travel through life.
Recently when doing some car sales training, I asked a participant who had a belief that was keeping him from incredible success to imagine the following:
“Yes, your current belief allows you to sell at the national average of 10 cars per month. But, imagine if you could remove the limitations associated with the belief that selling cars was differently than selling anything else, how many cars could you possibly sell?”
This is the essence of possibility thinking – achieving what you have achieved by doing what you never have done.
By: Leanne Hoagland-Smith
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Filed under Improvement by on Jul 23rd, 2010.
As the saying goes, to love and be loved is one of life’s greatest treasures. It feels so good to be able to cherish someone and do selfless acts for them. But how can a person love another when they do not know how to love themselves? It is just as important to love one’s self as it is to love another.
Loving yourself is not egotistical, nor is it selfish. It is necessary. Loving yourself can have many meanings. It can mean that you know yourself, your goals and aspirations and that you work toward them. It can mean that you learn to say “no” when you simply cannot field another person’s request for time or resources.
It can mean that you take time out of your day to focus on yourself, relax, and think. What sense does it make to love others and put them ahead of you if you burn yourself out while doing it? Also, how can you expect to really help others if you have spent so much time on others that you have not kept things in order in your own life?
Before you can seriously love someone else by affecting them positively, you have to do what it takes to put yourself in a position to emotionally, financially, and spiritually help others.
Another way to look at loving yourself is in the area of relationships. If a person loves him or herself, they will make sure that they dress presentably, speak confidently, and bring goals to the table.
This person is confident because they are comfortable with his- or herself as they are. They love their life with all of its mistakes and faults, and they are happy. How can another person accept you, your mistakes and faults if you yourself do not? If you value yourself with love then others will be able to as well.
Loving yourself is an essential part of being successful in life. People who love themselves do what is necessary to be happy and fulfill all of their responsibilities so that they can effectively help others. They are confident in themselves and by themselves, because they define their own wealth instead of depending on someone else to.
They keep their bodies healthy and in shape, and ensure their own safety. They have a strong sense of spirituality that helps them to love themselves. All of these descriptions depict the ideal, self-loving person. This person has their own life in order, so he or she can effectively affect another’s. Loving yourself is just one step on the road to success and the road to service.
By: Sarah Dillon
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Filed under Improvement by on Jul 23rd, 2010.