Live At 100%

Here is a topic that does not get covered much but is extremely important to success and happiness. The image in my mind is the morose attitude people have when going to work each Monday morning. To me, this is indicative of the passion people have for life. It seems that most are operating at a very low level.

Consider the difference between the words "trudge" and "skip". Do you trudge through your day or merrily skip along? This sounds like an insane question but it uncovers a great deal. My conclusion is that most trudge along hoping that something different comes along in the future. Naturally, it rarely does.

I once had a mentor who's mantra was "live at 100%". Can you imagine how different your life would be if you put forth 100% in everything that you do? Success would come to you in droves. However, this might be close to a impossibility. It is very difficult to be "up" in every situation.

Nevertheless, is it possible to improve your life by increasing you level from where you are now. Most tend to be low energy until they encounter something they love. We all know is it easier to get up early to go golfing than it is to go to work. Those who "trudge" are operating at a low level; perhaps 10%-20%. If this is your situation, we can immediately create different results by increasing this. Even a doubling of the way we approach life will net us fantastic results.

Begin to get excited about the results you are creating. Life is a fantastic adventure flexible enough to contour it in any way desired. The only moment that you have control over is the present. Make the most of this moment while ignoring the others. Increase your power by eliminating fear and projection. This allows us to focus on the present task at hand. Utilize this approach in all that you do today and you will notice a remarkable difference in your results.
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Become Obsessed

The present election cycle is a wonderful teacher for the power of obsession. Regardless of which candidate you are for, you will agree that many of the supporters are obsessed with gaining victory. At the same time, both Obama and McCain have that same desire for winning also. Their obsession leads to passion.

How does this differ from most people? Look at your life as an example. What is you overriding desire? Is there something that you want so badly that you are willing to commit everything you have to attaining it? For most, this simply is not the case. The average person does not have an obsession. Instead, they have hopes and wants. Notice the difference. The first is a full blown commitment, the later a pipe dream.

People who are passionate live happier lives. Sadly, it is easy to find people who lack this imperative emotion. Watch the demeanor of most when they arrive at work each day. They act like they are in for a death sentence (this is closer to the truth than they realize). Contrast that with someone who loves what he or she does. That person is invigorated when arriving at the office. He or she is passionate.

My recommendation is to become obsessed with something. Excellence stems from the passion that comes with this outlook. Developing passion is critical for our success. An effective way to begin practicing this is to create this with a hobby. Find something that you love to do in your spare time. Get passionate about it and see how much better you perform at it. Harness the power of focus to increase your effectiveness. This is what a healthy obsession can do.
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Passion Leads To Energy

Have you ever noticed how much energy you have when you are excited about doing something? At the same time, ever consider how lackluster you feel when you have to do something that you would rather not? This seems to be a common trait among all people. We witness this behavior regularly when studying other people.

Monday has the highest absentee rate of any day during the week. Is this a surprise to anyone? Not when you consider that statistics show that 75% of the population dislikes their job. People simply dread going into work. And those that do make it there, lack the passion necessary for excellence. Instead, they drag through the day anxiously awaiting the time when they can go home. This occurs throughout the world on a daily basis.

When we are excited about something, suddenly we have the energy necessary for that activity. Have you ever seen a child too tired to get up Christmas morning? Of course not. Yet this same person is unable to get up for school without a crowbar being applied. The amount of sleep is not what makes the difference. It is the excitement that creates the energy.

How does this apply to you? Well, it is time to make everyday like Christmas morning. Get excited about your life. This is done by doing things that you are passionate about. It starts with your profession. If you are in the 75% who detests what you do, find a different avenue to pursue. This might not be possible immediately. Nevertheless, set out a goal to be employed in a field that you love within the next year. This will set you off on a different path.

Too many spent their lives trudging through each day. A life without passion is really no life at all. Implement this simple emotion into all that you do to find out how much life can change.
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Obsession: The Overriding Desire

Obsession is defined as the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, or desire. This is something that received a bad rap in our culture. We all heard of people who were diagnosed with OCD. These people are obsessive in everything they do. For them, it is a psychological disorder because they carry their ideas too far. Perfection is their only criteria.

However, if you look at any successful person, you will find that they are obsessive about what they do. They strive for excellence in all areas. Unlike the one with a mental disorder, this person knows when to let go. Nevertheless, their goals are the dominating thoughts.

If you want to change any aspect of your life, it is vital that you start to obsess about it. An prime example is fitness. People who are obsessed with being physically fit will do all the things necessary to achieve that end. Those who lack this will get different results.

People who are obsessed are committed to reaching their ends. This is a drastic difference from just wanting something. With 60% of the population overweight, I would venture to say half the populous wants to lost some weight. Yet few do. The reason is that only a small percentage make it an overriding desire. Obsession is what creates different results.

What are you obsessed about in your life today? Uncover this and you will instantly find passion. Obsession offers the motivation which is otherwise lacking. Do you want a better career, earn more money, attract the person of your dreams, or learn a new language? Whatever your desire is, start obsessing over it. Let it become the dominant thought you carry throughout your day.

A word of caution: do not obsess about everything. This leads to the state of mind first mentioned. People who are OCD obsess over every little detail. Those who use obsession to their advantage have one or two single concepts that are focused upon. They maintain the ability to "let go" of the unimportant.

Spend some time in the next 24 hours pondering how obsession could play a role in your life. This will enhance the success you achieve ultimately.
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Add Passion To Your Life!

In my last post, I wrote about the passion that Ted Nugent has. His approach to life is something to learn from even if one is not a fan of his music nor his choices. It is something that everyone needs to implement in their life.

I often hear about people trying to learn to be passionate. Passion is not something that we learn; I believe it is inherent in all of us. However, it is something that most need to rediscover. It seems that life batters people so that they forget what they truly love. The need to be "responsible" overshadows what drives people. Society has a way of molding our behavior to model what it thinks is proper. For example, how many of you heard that "you need to get your feet on the ground" or "you can't make a living at that". These are indications that someone molded your choices to their liking.

It is time to rediscover what you are passionate about. Adding passion to your life will make waking up each day easier. It ignites the spirit beyond any motivational program. Passion is the force which enables us to spend long hours performing at tasks we love. This is the single factor that allows us to produce the results we desire.

Have you ever noticed how many people cannot wait for retirement? This tells me that these people spend a vast percentage of their day doing something they do not really like. Those who are passionate about what they do have no need to retire. They continue on long after others departed.

Today, I watched some college football on television. The first game had Penn State led by Joe Paterno. After that, Florida State coached by Bobby Bowden came on. What is interesting is that they two coaches are battling for most wins of all time. This is a testament to their longevity in the game. Paterno is over 80 while Bowden is in his 70s. They are still working more than a decade after most retire. Why? Because coaching college football is what they love to do. It is their passion.

Can you think of others who never retired because they followed their passion? George Burns performed at 100 years old. Sean Connery is still starring in films. Charles Schultz kept creating Charlie Brown even though he was financially set. Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus still play golf competitively. These type of people happily "work" until they die. Most hope they do not die until they can quit working.

Passion is what makes the difference. It is time to rediscover that within yourself.

Here are a few things that you can do which might help you uncover this:

1. Think about all that drove you as a child. What were your dreams? How did you like to spend your time? These answers will provide insight into what is at your core.

2. Close your eyes and envision how you would spend your day if money was not an issue. What profession would you be employed in? How would your time be spent each day? Often, we get so caught up with earning a living that we forget to create a life for ourselves.

3. Leaving talent aside, what would you truly love to do. Imagine that you are capable of anything. This will help to remove the limitations of the mind.

Begin to play with the ideas that stimulate you. There are many different ways to tap into this passion. Even if making a career out of something is not possible, perhaps you could volunteer in that field. Participating in something as a recreation is just as fulfilling as getting paid for it. What is important is to spend your time doing things that you love. It is the way to instantly spice up your life.
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