Other Cultures

I like to write about mindset on this blog. One of my favorite pastimes is to learn/study different cultures of the world. It is amazing how much you can learn from this practice.

There is a large world out there. Too often, we get so focused upon our own "little world" that we see in front of us. Realizing that there is so much more removes the mental limitation we often put upon ourselves.

When I read about "far away lands" I find that my mind wanders. The dreaming mechanism is instantly awakened. What would it be like to live in that area for a summer? How would my life differ in that culture? What can I take from them and bring into my daily life? These are all things which run through my mind.

Other cultures make us appreciate our own. Gratitude is a basic component of those who experience regular happiness. There are many cultures we can look at and feel a longing. Nevertheless, there are also many which make us grateful that we grew up in the one we did. For example, study the daily life in Cuba or China the last 40 or 50 years. This will lead to a sense of gratitude for being part of the Western world.

Life is about expanding our horizons. Everyone needs to think on a larger scale. Look at the ways other people live and contrast that with your life. Are there things that you can learn from them? Consider this point as you are reading. It will be to your benefit.
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Be Bold

If you want something to focus upon in your daily life which will change your journey, it is boldness. People who are highly successful tend to do things in bold ways. This is one of the major things that separates them from others.

Have you ever seen a meek person? This is someone who appears to be afraid of his or her shadow. Every action that person takes is tentative. It is almost as if they are unsure of themselves.

How does that contrast with people who are bold? Picture that person in your mind. Are they tentative? Not likely. Instead, they appear to be moving with a sense of confidence. Every action stands out.

Why do I bring this up? The truth is that nobody attained success on his or her own. Success is a team effort. The key is to attract people who will assist in your endeavors. People, by their nature, are attracted to those who are certain. Nobody wants to follow a leader who is completely unsure. Tentativeness is not a trait that is consistent with success.

Success requires bold actions. Beginning today, I want you to behave in a manner that is consistent with someone who is bold. Be careful. There is a difference between being bold and being a jerk. I am not telling you to act like a dictator.

By bold I mean approach all you do with a sense of certainty. Be willing to step out of your usual comfort zone and take some risks. The world rewards risk takers. Those who "play it safe" end up living an unfulfilled life. There is magic in being bold.

Ask yourself throughout your day, "what would someone who is bold do in this situation?". Consider how they would walk, talk, and behave. What is their demeanor like? Their body language? Try to implement that into your routine for a few days. You will be amazed at how differently you are received.
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An Overriding Goal

What is it you want more than anything else in the world? What is the "dream" that you carry with you on a daily basis? If an idea for your entire life is too much, what do you want to see happen in the next 6-12 months?

There is so much talk of goals that they can get diluted. The fact is that an overriding goal is what provides passion in our life. It is the basis of all obsession. People who feel that strongly about something will do whatever they can to make it come true. That is a person who cannot be stopped.

Sadly, few have this in their life. Instead, they drift through life with each day resembling the next. Over time, no progress is made because there lacks a direction. Circumstances are the director of life. It is a reactive way to live.

A large part of taking control of one's life is to have something that is desired more than anything else. This serves as motivation to move forward. Everything else becomes secondary because of the tremendous focus we are able to produce. Centering our life around this outcome is what guarantees success.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, writes how he wanted to run his own business more than anything else. At the time, he was a salesperson working for Xerox. He used the desire to be financially free as motivation to succeed at his sales job. He poured all his commissions into investments which afforded him the opportunity to leave that job. His overriding goal was realized in only a couple of years.

It is time for you to put some passion in your life. Those who have a dream wake up each day seeking to fulfill it. If it is something that is not possible today, having this outlook offers direction. Over time, one can see the progress that is being made. We become like children looking forward to Christmas. The anticipation builds the closer that we get.

Failing to do this will create a life that feels listless. Each week will drag along drearily. I remember working with a person who was at a company for over 30 years. Each Monday, he was looking forward to the weekend. His entire life was spent looking forward to another time. It was sad to see someone throw away his entire work career. This man lived a passionless life.

Avoid that trap. Get something to look forward to. Do you want to live in another country? Learn another language? Become physically fit? Run a marathon? Start you own business? Whatever your dream is, recapture it. It will instantly give you something to be passionate about. And, it is the moment when you will start living.
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Actions Not Words

It is what you do, not what you say, that matters. Many can talk a good game. Few actually are able to do what they say. The percentage of the "doers" dwarfs the "talkers".

Action is the key to success. All the planning is wasted if not followed up by action. Those who are able to act tend to achieve their goals. Failure to act is what sabotages many from living their dream life.

I wrote a number of times how action is what takes something from the invisible world and makes it visible. An idea resides on the invisible plane. For us to enjoy success, this needs to transform itself in the material world. Action is the ingredient which makes that happen.

Everything you see around you existed at one time as an idea. However, for it to manifest itself in your presence, action was applied to that idea. Once that occurred, the object appeared before you.

Success is the result of hard work. Robert DeNiro likes to say that it took him 10 years to become an overnight sensation. Before the success, there is often a lot of struggle. In this example, lots of action in the form of rehearsals, tryouts, and studying of his art preceded the success we all witness. The action was the key.

People like those who "get things done". This is an instant recipe for success in the business world. Companies are filled with people who say they are going to do something. Nevertheless, those who actually get things done are in the minority. The ability to act is central to all great achievements.

Consider this as you plan your day. Tomorrow, when you say that you are going to do something, remember that it is the actions, not the words, which matter. If you say it, do it!!!
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Perspective

This is one of the fundamental differences between those who succeed versus those who struggle. Successful people have a different perspective than the average person. It is this viewpoint which allows them to take the actions others fail to take.

Einstein said that a problem could not be solved on the same plane that created it. Human beings tend to "pigeonhole" their ideas. We believe that what we perceive is correct. Sadly, this mindset is often the cause of great discomfort in our life.

The stock market offers a wonderful example. Do you believe the stock market going down is a good thing? After all, people tend to make money when stocks increase in value. The answer to this question depends upon one's perspective. To the average person, a declining stock market is a bad thing. However, if someone is betting the market to go down, and took a position that reflected this belief, his or her perspective is different. To that person, a declining stock market is a good thing.

For most matters, there is not really a right or wrong; only perspective. Obviously, this is not referring to fundamentals morays such as murder, lying, etc. We are alluding to those situations which usually get us emotional which truly come down to our outlook.

Here is another example. Do you see catastrophe or do you see opportunity? Many look at the same situation and conclude different things. Some see the potential that are offered out of setbacks. Most tend to focus upon the tragedy of the circumstances.

The majority view getting fired a terrible thing. Here, someone is let go from a place from a job which they hate and were underpaid at, through no fault of their own.. Yet, they take the perspective that it is awful. Another viewpoint is that person is now free to go in any direction with one's career that he or she chooses. You see, it is all perspective.

One of the quickest ways to transform your life is to change how you look at the different situations which you are presently confronted with. Let go of the idea that your viewpoint is the only way to look at something. In every cloud there is a silver lining if you will only look for it. The same is true for circumstances. There is something good which can come out of every situation.

We can always step back to see things differently. Try this for a few days and see how different you life it. You will be amazed.
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Go For It!

This is a motto that is becoming more appropriate with each passing day. With the economic situation the way it is, people are going to have to take some chances if they hope to succeed. Playing it safe is rapidly becoming a recipe for failure. Just ask all those people who lost their jobs in the last few months due to the economic conditions. Safety is an illusion.

I started thinking about this when talking with a friend of mine. He make a fair amount of money investing in the stock market. Following the prescribed methods for success, he did what "he was suppose to do". Yet, he finds himself in a situation where he is suffering greatly.

His strategy was to invest in good quality financial institutions which paid a healthy dividend. Over the years, he realized a tremendous gain due to the appreciation of the stock. Nevertheless, with the recent collapse, he lost well over $1 million. Again, I need to stress that he did not invest in high risk programs. His system was one that was conservative designed for the long-term.

So, what does this all mean? To me, this says that you might as well take the chance because nothing is guaranteed to work out anyway. My friend sacrificed rewards for safety. However, in the end, there was no safety. And that is true for all of us.

People hold onto their jobs for fear of losing. Sadly, many find they lose it anyway. Was it worth the sacrifice of what they would have had otherwise? For most, probably not.

It takes courage to "go for it". Living one's dreams requires strength and inner resolve. Yet, it is the only way to go if you are to be truly free. "To thine own self be true". There are many who are slaves to the paycheck, exchanging their life for a few measly dollars. This is the common practice and is sad to witness.

Playing life conservative never results in success. Present circumstances are teaching us that everyday. We only need to look at the news to see the latest world catastrophe to understand how fragile everything is. It is time for you to decide to go for it in your life. What is it that you always wanted to do? Start the process of moving in that direction. There is no better time to consider your dreams then right now. For many, it might be the only way to survive.

Remember, safety is an illusion.
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Recharge Your Batteries

Stress is one of the leading killers in the United States today. We see diseases associated with this condition on the increase. The fact that people are under more pressure is starting to take its toll on the population at large. There, it is important for us to do all we can to reverse this trend in our lives.

Man was made to rest. Each night, we put ourselves in a state where we recharge our batteries. For the period of 6-8 hours, the body is revitalized through sleep. Failure to take this time causes negative effects on the body (and life). This downtime is crucial to our long-term well being.

At the same time, we need to take period days to rest. Even in the great book it says that God rested on the 7th day. All work and no play is not a way to go through life. People who do this only add to their stress levels since they fail to recharge their batteries. An occasional holiday is a therapeutic activity.

We are holistic beings. Our lives are meant to have some form of balance. Those who get heavily in one direction or the other encounter issues. Take the one who plays instead of working. This person will meet up with financial difficulties. At the same time, the "workaholic" can lose his/her health, family, and success. We need to seek balance in our lives.

So, the next time you are driven to work those extra hours, consider this article. Remember, nobody ever was on the deathbed wishing he or she spent more time at the office. This simply is not a regret that people have. Savor the moments of down time; they are the important ones.
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