Use Your Anger

Everyone gets angry periodically. There are simply certain things in life which irritate us. This feeling is magnified when the anger is caused by something we, ourselves, did. In others words, we are peeved at ourselves.

My study of human behavior leads me to believe that people will not make changes until they have felt enough emotional pain. It is sad to say but pain is a better motivator for change than pleasure. People will only take a different path once they suffered enough.

A prime example is the alcoholic. This person's drinking is a problem long before he or she admits it. Others around that person see it. However, the alcoholic will not seek recovery until he or she felt enough pain. Only then will the new path be forged.

That being said, what do you do when you get into those situations where you are upset with yourself? Most, I found, waste this opportunity for success. Instead, they allow it to pass without taking advantage of the pain they experience.

Anger can be a wonderful motivator because it is such a powerful emotion. This power can drive us to reach new heights if we use if for productive purposes. Using our anger is what allows us to harness it's power. This turns it into something productive.

So, how can we use the anger which is directed at ourselves? Ideally, we want to make this the motivating force behind us forging a new path. We all need to get to the point where we say "enough".

The next time you are beating yourself up over something you did (or did not do), use your anger to your advantage. Resolve in that moment to never let that happen again. Whatever your shortcoming was in that situation, take every action to ensure things turn out differently in the future. There is a lesson in everything. Learn whatever the circumstances are presenting and be motivated to alter your behavior. This is how you create a positive out of a negative.
Share and Enjoy!

Failing Is Not A Bad Thing

We are taught that failure is something that is to be avoided. And, it is for that very reason why people live in a cocoon. The fear of failure, ingrained in us since we were young, is one of the most power motivators (demotivators) that exists. It serves to crush more dreams than anything else.

Failure is a wonderful thing. Here is something that I want you to remember: the most successful person is the one who failed the most. Imprint that idea on your memory. Understanding this single concept will change your life.

Babe Ruth is recognized as one of the greatest homerun hitters of all-time. Did you know that he held the record for strikeouts longer than the homerun title? Warren Buffet, known as the Oracle of Omaha for his stock picking, lost $25 billion last year in the stock market. How many people have that much money to lose? Colonel Sanders was rejected over 1,000 times before someone accepted his recipe for chicken. Who among us is not familiar with his creation, Kentucky Fried Chicken?

It is a myth to believe that successful people do not fail. The path to success is always wrought with failure. This is the mechanism that teaches us the most. In fact, those people who attain success too quickly usually lose it. Take the lottery winners as an example. Here is someone who amasses a massive amount of money without going through the trials and tribulations of amassing it. A few years later, many of them lost everything they won.

Failure is not a bad thing. In reality, there is not even such an animal. There are only results. Sometimes one gets the results he or she is seeking; others times that person gets a lesson. Life has a way of teaching us what to do. It is those who pay attention to the situations which go awry who end us utilizing that knowledge. Those who fail to learn from history are deemed to repeat it.

Let me ask you a simple question: who here walked the first time they tried it? I would guess the answer is "nobody". Every toddler falls down when learning to walk. Yet, not a single parent tells their kids to stop trying. That is why everyone can walk. They stick with it until it is perfected. Failure is not an option in that situation.

Therefore, seek out failure. It is your most valuable teacher. If you are going to fail, fail big. Nobody ever make it to the top without some setbacks. Treasure those moments because they are the insights which will allow you to avoid the pitfalls of the future.
Share and Enjoy!

How Important Is It?

This is one of the most powerful questions that you can ask yourself. It is the foundation for emotional maturity. Being in control is what allows us to get through the day-to-day ups and downs of life. Those who "lose it" tend to fail in their different endeavors.

Much of life depends upon our interpersonal skills. Getting along with others is paramount for success. Maturity is being able to progress forward even when things are not going your way. Here is a fact of life: things will go wrong. You will not always come up on the winning side. Yet, persevering is one of the fundamental qualities of success.

How often do you fly of the handle only to forget about it a few hours later? This seems to be a fairly common tendency. Many will get upset when the smallest thing does not go in their favor. I remember once a friend telling me how he totally lost it over some oil spilling in his driveway. His outrage occurred in front of his neighbors and daughter. How important was it really? Was it that big a deal that it was worth risking his relationship with these people? In light of what happened, probably not. Even though the neighbors still talk with him, I am sure they now look at him a bit differently. This affects his relationship with them.

Lack of emotional control is something that is a result of not asking this question. There are many times throughout the day that I ask "how important is it". When I get candid with myself, the answer is usually "not very important". In the grand scheme of things, getting upset over many of the trivial things we confront each day just is not worth it. The price we pay is too great.

Stress is one of the leading causes of medical problems in this generation. People are too stressed out. We take everything too seriously because of the need to operate at light speed. Slowing down is not part of our agenda. Instead, we all try to be the prototypical type A personalities. Do Do Do. That is our motto. We have our fancy planners and lists which we must complete. Failure is simply not an option. As time goes by, we assume more responsibility, thus increasing the pressure.

This leads to success. And, that person is the most successful person in the cemetery. How important is it? Ponder that question for a while. Of all the things that you do each day, how important is it really? Take your work for example. If you do not get something done, will the company collapse. Perhaps but not likely. How many of us are so important that our careers are going to be remembered centuries from now? I hope all of my readers are at that level but, again, not likely. The truth is that much of what we fret over is really not important.

There is a saying "in a week we will laugh about this". This is so true. Think back to the last situation that you "lost it" over. How do you feel about that situation now? Was it worth acting like a total jackass in front of others (if you did that)? I would surmise it was not. Few of us are in positions where anything is at that urgent a level.

Learn to let things go. Would you rather be right or would you rather be happy? Many, by their actions, want to be right. This leaves them extremely unhappy. The world is not a just place. Understanding this simple idea will make your life a lot easier. Let the minor injustices go. At the same time, cut yourself some slack for the humanness you have. If you did not get something done today, that is alright. Tomorrow is a new day.

Relax and remember "how important is it".
Share and Enjoy!

The Awe Of It All

I write a lot about focus. Often, the most successful people have the ability to concentrate their focus like a laser beam. This is one of the things that separates then from the pack. However, there is a time when we need to step back to look at things from a different perspective.

Last night, I came home and flipped on the television. There was a rocket being shown on the launching pad at NASA. Being so close, I decided to go outside and watch it. Rockets launched at night are an amazing display. I have personally seen the shuttle go up at night half a dozen times. It is always amazing to see that in person.

The rocket last night went up a lot quicker then the shuttle. Nevertheless, it was an incredible thing. To see something so powerful cutting through the night sky is beyond words. It is so beautiful against the backdrop of the stars. I really got the big picture of just how large the universe really is.

I bring all this up for context. We often focus on the magnitude of our "problems". When I do something like last night, I realize how "small" life really is. Now, that comes contrary to a lot of what I teach. Nevertheless it is helpful to gain a different viewpoint at times.

Looking up at the night sky always fills me with wonder. I am in awe of what is out there. There are literally thousands (or millions) of stars and planets. The Earth is just one in a fleet. Simply, there is so much more out there.

The same force that created all of that devised us. We all have magical powers to design our lives however we want it to be. There is no limit to what we can accomplish regardless of the magnitude. Great things are achieved by people with big visions. I find no bigger picture than the canvass that is the night sky.

Live your life with a bit of awe. There are many amazing things that occur each day. Be mindful of the "miracles" that take place each day. Stop fretting about the things that really do not matter. Like the old saying goes "this too shall pass". There is an entire universe that is operating perfectly. It will not crumble if you falter at your present activity. Simply pick yourself up and move on.

Life, like the universe, is an amazing creation. Take the time to treasure it.
Share and Enjoy!

What Really Creates Success?

This is a question that has plagued mankind since the earliest of times. What is it that separates those who achieve from those who do not? There are thousands upon thousands of books written on the subject; all utilizing a different theory. Some believe it is motivation; others mindset. However, what is the one thing that really creates success?

Through my years of research, I understand there is a common trait among those who are successful. I believe this is the single factor which determines success. Concentrate on this quality and you will attain all that you set out to do. This trait is "action".

Those who take action are successful. It is that simple. Everything else that is written about pertaining to personal development is an aid to taking action. Anthony Robbins refers to it as "Personal Power: the ability to act". Action is what separates the successful apart.

I wrote on a number of occasions that mindset is crucial to success. I stand by that assertion. However, a good mindset helps only in it's ability to get you to take action. Those who carry a poor mindset tend not to act. The same is true for motivation. This is a way to get yourself to take action. Nevertheless, being motivated is not what achieves the goal.

Ideas exists on the invisible plane. Success is measured by what is seen. The bridge between the two is action. The ability to act is the most important aspect in your life. Concentrate on what you do each day to ensure your life is going in the direction you desire. Overcoming fear is a vital part of this process. To many are paralyzed by this invisible barrier. Remember, your success is determined by the actions you take.

To get started on the path to success, make a list of 5 things that you need to do immediately. Write them on a piece of paper and go complete them. Notice how you feel when you have them all completed. This is what action does for us. It makes our dreams into reality.
Share and Enjoy!

The Greatest Obstacles

People consistently will talk about all the obstacles they face in life. There is no doubt that issues such as illness, finances, and relationships can create tremendous challenges. However, these are not the things that hold people back. It is what is inside that creates the greatest obstacle to personal success.

People are not stopped from the outside. Rather, the obstacles that hinder people's progress are totally within them. This sounds insane to the untrained person yet all successful people know this to be true. What is it that has consistently stopped you your entire life? It was not the situations since they change over time. We are stopped by those thoughts and feelings we consistently carry with us.

A successful life is accomplished on a daily basis. Many look for the "big bang" success which is rare. Overnight successes are the oddity. Most attain success by taking daily action in the direction they want to move in. This is done by a daily conquest of one's thoughts and emotions.

The self help industry has existed for thousands of years. I believe Jesus was the greatest self-help teacher there was. He laid a program that helped people to overcome fear and showed people how to live a successful life. Notice none of his strategies dealt with making money or running a business. He focused on the internal makeup of an individual.

This concept was also stressed by other great teachers throughout history. All spiritual leaders talk about "going inward" to find solutions. Conquering oneself preceded the conquering of the world. This is something that held since the early times.

If you want to master your world, it is best to master yourself. We need to identify and focus upon those things which are stopping us. All success is first created within. Take control of your life on a daily basis. Overcoming fear and procrastination is not a one time event. It is something that needs to be achieved on a daily basis, multiple times a day.

In summation, the greatest challenge you face is controlling your thoughts and your emotions. Everything that you realize on the outside is a manifestation of what occurs on the inside. If you are consistently experiencing lack and need, concentrate on motivating yourself to take the action to solve these problems. Fear is something that your mind invents. It is not real. However, we all buy it until it controls our lives. We should no more believe in this animal than we do in Santa Claus. They both are equally as real.

To achieve all your success, first go inward. That is where your solutions lie.
Share and Enjoy!

The Key To Success

Over the last few months we have stressed the importance of planning and having the proper mindset which is geared for success. Those who take the time to clear their minds of all the negativity and failing thoughts are better able to handle the obstacles of life. Success is not an overnight endeavor, often requiring tremendous thought.

However, there is a time to think and there is a time to act. Taking action is the foundation of all success. No success is ever achieved without someone doing something. This is a universal principle which cannot be altered. Thoughts exist in the invisible world. Success is manifested in the physical realm. The bridge between the two is action. It is what takes an idea from the invisible.

The key to action is getting started. This is the one obstacle which hinders people. If they would only get started, their life would enjoy a great deal more success. For example, it is a lot easier to workout once you are at the gym. Few talk themselves out of exercising when they are on the gym floor. However, while sitting at home on the sofa, it is easy to justify not going to the gym.

This principle applies to all aspect of life. If the dishes are piling up in the sink, get started cleaning them. Have a big project that needs your attention, sit down and do something. Any project, no matter what its size, can be broken down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Focusing on accomplishing these will lead to success.

Therefore, get started. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Take that step now. Whatever you were putting off, go do something about it. If you are in need of exercise, create a workout schedule. Or go sign up for a gym membership. Or dig out your old gym clothes. No matter what you choose, take at least one action which moves you closer to your desired goal.

Now that we came to the end of this article, I will tell you the only reason it is here is because I started writing it. Prior to that moment, this was just a thought in my head. Since I started it, I was also able to complete it.

To your success!
Share and Enjoy!