"The undiscerning mind is like a root of a tree-it absorbs equally all that it touches-even the poison that would kill it.”~Master Po, from Kung Fu
Your associations are the most important part of your life and business. Do you constantly evaluate them? Why not? Those associations are influencing you whether you know it or not. Are they influencing you for the better or for worse...
Here are some questions to ask yourself about your associations:
1. Who are you around?
You've got to evaluate everybody that you are around and their influence on you.
2. What are these associations doing to me or for me?
Are you listening to them? What do they have you thinking about yourself? How are you talking when you are around them? How do they make me feel?
3. Is that ok?
Maybe everyone you associate with is lifting you up, only concerned about your highest good, only looking out for your best interests. If so, that's great. Congratulations in picking the best associations, then again there might be some bad apples in that bunch. Take the time to take a second look at your associations.
It's really easy to dismiss the influence of others in our lives. Everything matters! You've got to keep checking to make sure the associations that you allow yourself to have are positive and uplifting for you.
"The undiscerning mind is like a root of a tree-it absorbs equally all that it touches-even the poison that would kill it.”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Just Getting Started
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."~Louis L'Amour
Wow, how many times has that happened to you? Just when you think that you've done everything, you realize that there is so much more to do...What happens then? Do you continue on "doing it" or do you quit? Once the initial passion wears off, can you keep going?
Most people fly out of the gates on a new project but hit a wall when the excitement and enthusiasm starts to ebb. Is that you? Can you relate? Are you a starter or a finisher?
Starters usually need someone to help them finish, while finishers usually need someone to get them going. Where do you fit in? There are a few people who both start and finish and they are the ones we call "successful."
It's usually easier to be a starter than a finisher. A finisher needs to have the ability to work through long stretches of drudgery and do the work that needs to be done, but isn't as fun.
Here's the key: Figure out which one you are and align yourself with someone who has the opposite talent. Or find a group of people who can help you do the part where you struggle.
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."
Wow, how many times has that happened to you? Just when you think that you've done everything, you realize that there is so much more to do...What happens then? Do you continue on "doing it" or do you quit? Once the initial passion wears off, can you keep going?
Most people fly out of the gates on a new project but hit a wall when the excitement and enthusiasm starts to ebb. Is that you? Can you relate? Are you a starter or a finisher?
Starters usually need someone to help them finish, while finishers usually need someone to get them going. Where do you fit in? There are a few people who both start and finish and they are the ones we call "successful."
It's usually easier to be a starter than a finisher. A finisher needs to have the ability to work through long stretches of drudgery and do the work that needs to be done, but isn't as fun.
Here's the key: Figure out which one you are and align yourself with someone who has the opposite talent. Or find a group of people who can help you do the part where you struggle.
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."
Sunday, November 15, 2009
New Thoughts
Are you thinking new things? Research says no. They've found that 85% of the thoughts that you think today, were the thoughts that you thought yesterday...Wow, talk about being stuck in "Groundhog Day!"
At least Bill Murray realized it and took advantage of his situation in the movie, do you realize it? Do you see how your thought patterns repeat over and over?
And now for the really bad part...80% of those repeated thoughts are NEGATIVE! And you wondered why it was so difficult to maintain a positive attitude. Make a change today and think wildly outrageous thoughts, thoughts you never would have imagined, thoughts that challenge your way of thinking and beliefs. I challenge you to try...
If you are wanting to create big life changes, you will have to start with your thoughts. Everything starts with a thought, nothing can happen without thought. Think about it.
"Thinking brand new thoughts that you've never thought before is wildly more conducive to creating big life changes than just thinking different varieties of the same old thoughts."
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Your Full Attention
"Anything worth doing is worth your full attention."~Michael Masterson
Do you multitask? Why?? It just takes you longer to do the things you are doing. Think about it.
In our "microwave" society, we put value on being able to do 100 things at the same time, but doesn't that just take away from each individual thing that we do? Doesn't it just let us get away with doing the work half-ass? Are you really giving each of those 100 things your FULL attention?
I say no, and it is doing harm to you and everyone who tries to multitask and even the people who we are multitasking for. We have become a society of "average is good enough." We have become a society that doesn't celebrate excellence but only quantity.
Part of the problem is also that we have lost the understanding of what is worth doing. Most high school students now say that what is important to them is "getting rich." Wow, have we lost our way or what?
Think about it, are the things that you are doing worth your full attention, or can you just do them and get by without a lot of thought...
"Anything worth doing is worth your full attention."
Do you multitask? Why?? It just takes you longer to do the things you are doing. Think about it.
In our "microwave" society, we put value on being able to do 100 things at the same time, but doesn't that just take away from each individual thing that we do? Doesn't it just let us get away with doing the work half-ass? Are you really giving each of those 100 things your FULL attention?
I say no, and it is doing harm to you and everyone who tries to multitask and even the people who we are multitasking for. We have become a society of "average is good enough." We have become a society that doesn't celebrate excellence but only quantity.
Part of the problem is also that we have lost the understanding of what is worth doing. Most high school students now say that what is important to them is "getting rich." Wow, have we lost our way or what?
Think about it, are the things that you are doing worth your full attention, or can you just do them and get by without a lot of thought...
"Anything worth doing is worth your full attention."
Friday, November 13, 2009
What Have You Committed To?
"How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow that I've committed to?"~Anthony Robbins
Great question! Does that change your thinking? What have you committed to for your future?
See, we often make these commitments to ourselves and then continue living life the old way, without changing how we live. "If you keep doing the same thing, you're going to get the same result," so something needs to change. What needs to change in order for you to create the tomorrow that you've committed to?
If you've committed to losing weight or eating healthy but don't change your habits, you've not made a commitment, you've made a wish. You can make all the wishes you want but the big genie in the sky won't make you skinnier or eat better without action from YOU!
Are you making commitments or wishes? Who's holding you accountable?
"How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow that I've committed to?"
Great question! Does that change your thinking? What have you committed to for your future?
See, we often make these commitments to ourselves and then continue living life the old way, without changing how we live. "If you keep doing the same thing, you're going to get the same result," so something needs to change. What needs to change in order for you to create the tomorrow that you've committed to?
If you've committed to losing weight or eating healthy but don't change your habits, you've not made a commitment, you've made a wish. You can make all the wishes you want but the big genie in the sky won't make you skinnier or eat better without action from YOU!
Are you making commitments or wishes? Who's holding you accountable?
"How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow that I've committed to?"
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Dwelling On Misfortunes?
"The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."~Voltaire (aka Francois-Marie Arouet)
Are you dwelling on misfortunes? Why? You can create a new life right this very minute. You just have to let go of your past. That means really letting go, really.
"You can't change the past, but you can start now and create a new future." You can also "reframe" the past so that you can deal with it better and let it go. I'm dealing with that right now and although it isn't easy, I am moving forward to creating a new future.
Most people are getting some benefit out of holding on to their past misfortunes, whether it's sympathy, empathy or some other benefit, why are you holding on to those misfortunes. The longer that we hold on to these thoughts, the greater their power to harm us is.
Someone who I consider a mentor said this this morning "Don't "catastrophize"—exaggerate negative consequences of an event. Keep perspective." That was Alan Weiss. Too often we "Catastrophize" our past events. Wow, is that powerful or what???
"The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."
Are you dwelling on misfortunes? Why? You can create a new life right this very minute. You just have to let go of your past. That means really letting go, really.
"You can't change the past, but you can start now and create a new future." You can also "reframe" the past so that you can deal with it better and let it go. I'm dealing with that right now and although it isn't easy, I am moving forward to creating a new future.
Most people are getting some benefit out of holding on to their past misfortunes, whether it's sympathy, empathy or some other benefit, why are you holding on to those misfortunes. The longer that we hold on to these thoughts, the greater their power to harm us is.
Someone who I consider a mentor said this this morning "Don't "catastrophize"—exaggerate negative consequences of an event. Keep perspective." That was Alan Weiss. Too often we "Catastrophize" our past events. Wow, is that powerful or what???
"The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Everything You Do Matters
"Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world."~Andy Andrews
Do you realize this? EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO MATTERS. There are no throw-away moments, no moments of it's not important what I do or think about, no moments that it doesn't matter what you do.
Think about that today. There are no throw-away moments...
How often do you allow yourself to have those throw-away moments? All the time, often, sometimes, never? Think about your day yesterday, how many throw=away moments did you allow yourself to have? Why?
You have been created to be one of a kind! There's no one else in the world that is like you! Fearlessly be yourself. The world gets nothing from you playing small...
You have been created to make a difference. Are you making a difference? Really? Or is that your ego saying that you make a difference?
You have the power to change the world. "He who would change the world, must change himself first." Are you ready for that change or have you made that change already???
"Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world."
Do you realize this? EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO MATTERS. There are no throw-away moments, no moments of it's not important what I do or think about, no moments that it doesn't matter what you do.
Think about that today. There are no throw-away moments...
How often do you allow yourself to have those throw-away moments? All the time, often, sometimes, never? Think about your day yesterday, how many throw=away moments did you allow yourself to have? Why?
You have been created to be one of a kind! There's no one else in the world that is like you! Fearlessly be yourself. The world gets nothing from you playing small...
You have been created to make a difference. Are you making a difference? Really? Or is that your ego saying that you make a difference?
You have the power to change the world. "He who would change the world, must change himself first." Are you ready for that change or have you made that change already???
"Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)