Change the Way You Speak to Yourself and Increase Your Chances of Success

A lot of people I speak to really want to break away from the normal 9 to 5 and to be fair most of them take the first tentative steps towards making this life changing move, they may have thought of a great way to make money or brought a book on how to start your own business or attend a seminar by someone who has done just what they would like to do, they may have even paid for a course that takes them step by step through the process of setting up a great money making system.

I know when I decided that I wanted to break away from the rat race I did all of the above and much more, spending thousands of pounds in the process BUT like most people, I never really got beyond those first few steps, in fact it was over TEN YEARS before I actually did grab the bull by the horns and put something into action. The amazing thing was after all that time it was one of the first ways to make money I learned of that I acted on and I have never looked back since.

So why do we do this? Why don't we take action if we want something as bad as we say we do? Why do we sit and procrastinate instead of doing something about it?

Well we usually come up with a number of excuses:

I'm not intelligent enough.

I didn't have a good education/get good grades/go to college. etc.

I haven't got the time.

I can't afford to do it.

I am too old/young.

I've never done anything like this before.

Or we put things off...

I will start Friday/next weekend/next month/when I have that week off work. etc.

I also know from experience one of the main reasons is fear!

Fear of failure!

Fear of change!

Fear of the unknown!

Fear of what other people will think of us!

The list goes on but generally comes back to that one irrational emotion;

False Evidence Appearing Real

The good news is we CAN do something about it, The bad news is its going to take a little bit of effort to address the problem. But don't worry its nothing complicated and its something that everyone can do.

What we have to do is change our mindset and to do this the first thing we need to do is change the way we speak to ourselves and this is what I'm going to be concentrating on today.

From very early on in life we talk to ourselves and what we say and how we say it has a big influence on how we react to the situations we find ourselves in as an adult. Over time we ( or the people around us/society in general ) brainwash ourselves with all kinds of limiting thoughts and notions of what we should do and what should make us happy.

So after a while all this self talk and outside influence helps to program our subconscious mind into accepting that we should be happy with what we do and what we have. After all you have a job/food on the table/ a roof over your head/ a car etc. so you should be satisfied with your lot right?

But is this really YOUR definition of happiness? Are you really satisfied with your lot?

I'm guessing that as you are reading this the answer is a resounding NO!

Well then it's time to admit to yourself that you are unhappy with where you are at this moment and that you are no longer going to accept life as it is. It's time to make your life what it can be and more to the point what it should be.

According to psychologists how we view life and more importantly how we view ourselves is largely set in stone by the time we are six years old. Just think about that for a while, everything we do in life, every decision we make, how we talk to ourselves and what we expect to achieve for ourselves is largely influenced by what kind of life we lived and what kind of experiences we had in those first few years!

Kind of scary eh?

So what does this mean?

In short it means that most of us talk to ourselves in a negative and unhelpful manner and this in turn restricts what we do or achieve with our lives.

Throughout the day we are talking to ourselves constantly either out loud or in our heads. Some of this self-talk is good - your dreams, your wants, your desires, your family, your friends, the little things that make you smile to yourself.

BUT some of it is negative and this stems from those experiences we were talking of earlier, those limiting influences that have got you nowhere. This kind of self-talk is what holds you back, it restricts you, brings you down and stops you from doing the things in life that you dream about.

This kind of self-talk is destructive and needs to be avoided at ALL costs. You must be aware of everything you are saying to yourself, whether it be out loud or in your head and when you find you are speaking to yourself in a negative way STOP!

Listen out for the positive things you say and concentrate on these instead, this is the kind of self-talk you have to nurture and as you do the negative self-talk will die back.

Once you allow the positive self-talk to flourish you will find great things start to happen with you as a person, to the way other people see and treat you and with your life in general.

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Why Small Wins Create Huge Success

If you are the kind of ambitious, bold-thinking, courageous high level achiever, you probably are a serious action taker who understands the essence and importance of daily personal growth and development.

A daily habit of self-improvement is one of the golden keys to consistent success. This kind of self-investment will lead you to become more successful, attractive, productive, courageous, happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.

As Jim Rohn taught me, if you want to have more, you have to become more. For things to change, you have to change. For things to improve, you have to improve.

The level of success we experience in our outer world is simply the mirror reflection of our self-identity and personal development of our inner world.

So when you raise your personal development set points (self-identity, mindsets, attitudes, philosophy, skills and abilities), everything in your life will be raised automatically.

However, some people approach this self-improvement process in a wrong way, which sabotaged their time, energy and efforts to succeed.

For instance, many of us are under the assumption that the best types of changes we can make are those 'big steps'.

You probably have heard about terms like 'turn over a new leaf' and 'start afresh' as if we could just hit a 'reset' button like a computer and everything will become clean and perfect right away.

In reality, the most effective, long-term, sustainable kind of self-improvement always involves taking small, tiny, seemingly insignificant steps day in and day out.

Breaking out of old destructive habits and introducing new habits into our routine are very difficult and the whole process requires a lot of effort.

Habits are formed when certain actions get repeated over time, and those neural connections in our brain will be strengthened every time they are instructed to fire the signal.

It's like creating a deep groove and then running water along the surface - it gravitates to the groove.

When you're trying to change a habit, you're exerting a lot of energy to go against this natural inclination of existing neural pathways whenever you perform the new action. Thus, you need a lot of focus, dedication and willpower if you truly want to change.

So if you're trying to change 27 things at once, or if you're going from no exercise to exercising 2 hours every day for 6 times a week, you're setting yourself up for failure.

Additionally, when you are overloaded with excessive information, your brain won't be able to process them and you will be shut down to take any kinds of action at all. So you remain as the same old self!

So the best way of creating lasting changing is almost always changing just 1 tiny thing at a time - be it getting rid of certain behaviors or adding a new empowering success habit.

This will make your entire body mechanism much easier to handle the transition when you shift from failure to success over time.

With enough consistency, persistence and patience, you will build up great positive success habits over time and you'll start to experience massive success you've always desired.

Plus-You Can Now Join Our FREE Mastering Success Facebook Community at www.masteringsuccess.group

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Simple Ways Of Improving And Making Your Life Better

Success brings about happiness and fulfillment. However, this does not mean that you should wait until you have achieved everything you want to in life to be happy. Your attitude towards life is what determines how complete and happy you feel even as you continue to fight your way into success and prosperity. Starting with small changes and improvements today can make your life much better and much more enjoyable. So what exactly should you start doing to make your life better?

1. Start appreciating what you already have. It is human to always concentrate on things you want and things you have not yet achieved but the truth is if you start being grateful for what you have already, you will be a happier person with a positive attitude to life. It saves you from worrying and keeps you focused besides changing your perspective. Make a list of things you already have and are grateful for and go through it once you start feeling down.

2. Plan for your day beforehand. A list of to-do things is commonly overlooked yet it is one of the most workable in making your daily living better. When you plan your next workday the night before, you will wake up ready and excited to get the things you have on your list done. The planning will help you minimize wasting time and achieving very little by the end of the day. Know what tomorrow is all about before you sleep.

3. Keep off the negative thinking. Truth is, sometimes it is inevitable to stop thinking about the possible negatives in different areas of life. This is however something that can really drag you down and you should make a point of keeping off all the negative thinking. Negativity can leave you feeling hopeless and helpless and this can reduce the quality of life. Watch out for negative thinking and negative minded people to make an improvement.

4. Drop all resentments. It is most likely that you have resentment towards peers, colleagues or even family members for one thing or another. The truth is that they take up too much of your mental space and they make it harder for you to function properly. Make a decision to let them go away and forget. Forgive and forget and you will have a much lighter load to deal with in life.

5. Understand the person you are and honor yourself. No one can love you the same you can love yourself. When you know who you are, you will definitely appreciate yourself and keep up with your values. Do not fake to be someone you are not, but instead strive to be a better person every day. When you know your strengths and your weaknesses, making improvements becomes truly easy.

6. Be ready to learn. It is not always that things will work out as you expect them to and even during such times you must find a way of learning and moving on. Do not allow yourself to get stuck in one disappointment, but rather take it as a lesson, learn something and take a different approach to achieve what you want.

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Strengthening Your Belief in Yourself

It may sound strange, but the one person you'll always have in your life is you. In order to have an existence that's peaceful yet exciting and fulfilling, it's important to believe in yourself.

When you believe in yourself, you know that you have the ability to handle anything that life throws your way. You recognize that¸ although things may be tough, you'll get through it.

If that voice deep inside you says, "But what if I'm not sure that I can handle something," you could probably benefit from boosting your self-confidence and recognizing more of your abilities.

These strategies can bolster that belief:

1. Know yourself. Who are you? How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn't know you? Write down a description of you. "[Your name] is a person who_____________." Keep writing what you know about yourself. When you're finished, read it. Does it give the reader a clear idea of who you are?

2. Develop a real understanding for how you react in certain situations. For example, if someone tells you he's angry about something you did, how do you respond? When people ask for help, what do you do? Noticing the behaviors you perform whenever challenging situations occur will help you see your capabilities.

3. Be comfortable with your own feelings. Recognize what you're feeling and label it-is it sadness you feel when you see your little girls growing up? Or is it pride? It's okay to shed a tear over a poignant commercial or a sad or touching movie.

4. Recognize your strong points. Although most of us can identify our weak areas right off the bat, it's sometimes a challenge to see our strong points. Recognizing the areas of life in which you do really well is a great confidence-booster.

5. Remind yourself you've made it through some challenging episodes in life. When you see what you've risen above, it helps you to realize that you can get through the tough times. You can probably easily recount all the difficult phases you've gone through in life. Yet here you are, surviving and maybe even thriving.

• Be inspired by the initiative, personal strength, and courage you've shown so far in life. Say to yourself: "If I did that, then I can achieve even more."

• For example, maybe you made your way through college or even graduate school while working full-time and taking care of a family. That's quite a feat. It must have been a challenging time for you. Yet somehow, you did it. That's pretty incredible. Acknowledge it.

6. Get comfortable with admitting you made a mistake. This suggestion just might be the most important one on the list. If you can't admit to yourself and others on a regular basis that you've made a mistake, the fact is that you'll have difficulty believing in yourself. Why? Because in order to believe in yourself, you must be real with yourself and others.

• Otherwise, you'll see that you're not even honest with yourself and your confidence will lag. It's okay to be wrong. Let's face it-most of us are wrong at least once a day. The easiest way to solve an issue or figure out a conundrum is to acknowledge, "I did something wrong."

• If you recognize and acknowledge your errors, you're very wise because you obviously know you can't correct a mistake unless you see the mistake in the first place. If you're not already doing it, start openly and honestly acknowledging errors. That way, you can fix them.

• These actions will also help you believe in your ability to handle anything.

If you believe in yourself, your life will be so much easier. Believing in yourself brings a certain quiet confidence. Thoughtfully consider the above points and strengthen your resolve to believe in the one person you'll always have: you.

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Know Your Worth And Value

Self-respect may be the most valuable personal asset you have. Or should have.

For too many years I let my fear of punishment, or my concept of being a good sport or a professional, keep me from realizing my full potential. Too often I didn't follow the path I knew to be right because of some misunderstanding of my role in the situation.

My parents did the best they could in raising me and teaching me to be a wonderful human. I knew right from wrong. I knew how to be generous. I understood the importance of commitment and honor. I didn't know my self-worth.

When you know your self-worth you set boundaries with others, you do your best because you are deserving of quality, and you set boundaries for yourself so you live your fullest potential.

Do you know what I'm talking about?

Do you cancel your date when your boss asks you to stay late to work on a project that could probably be done tomorrow? Do you avoid applying for a new position because your present job department relies on you so much that you can't leave them in the lurch? Do you eat another helping of lasagna, or have another drink, when the hostess urges you to, even when you are too full to enjoy it, because you don't want to seem rude?

Those actions reflect your low level of self-esteem, your concept of self-worth.

You aren't a hero when you put others before yourself. You aren't doing anyone a favor when you put yourself last.

Years ago I had a neighbor who lived under the delusion she alone had to care for her ailing husband and Down Syndrome sister, regardless. One winter she caught a cold which wouldn't go away, but she didn't stop to tend to it. It turned to pneumonia, and she still pressed on - she had to, her family depended on her. A lot of good it did her husband and sister when she died out of a false sense of responsibility.

If that neighbor had truly known her self-worth she would have handled the situation differently so that she could heal and be around for her family for years to come. She could have gotten someone else to step in and help with her husband and sister. Her lack of knowing her self-worth contributed to her demise, and ultimately her husband's and sister's.

OK, maybe that's an extreme example. But, maybe it's not pointed enough. Are you killing yourself for others?

The more self-respect you have the more you can shine, the more you can do with your life, and the more you can give to the world. You give to the world one way or another, so take control and give it your best!

Knowing your worth impacts your confidence and energy, and that snowballs to impact your influence, productivity, and focus. With strong self-esteem you live a life of purpose and direction, you are a positive role model and make a positive contribution to the world, and you enjoy all that your life has to offer.

Possessing the valuable asset of self-respect, you make the world a better place, starting with yourself.

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Take the Risk and Pursue Your Dreams

Like a lot of people we choose to follow a certain path in life, but along the way we give up. Maybe because of new interests, or changed priorities, or unforeseeable circumstances. But there are some desires and dreams that just don't go away, however much we try to ignore or run away from them. Some of these dreams could be something like pursuing a different career path, trying a new venture, or going after the person we are attracted to. If you find that such thoughts are still in your mind several months, or even years down the road, then it might be worth taking the risk, and pursuing those desires.

The source of your true happiness and success in life may just stem from going after those interests. Something that stays in your mind for a long time, is a lot more than just a mere whim or a fleeting desire. It means that deep down inside, you really want these things, but because of a fear of the unknown, you choose to ignore them. Being the stubborn thoughts that they are, they refuse to go away, and you become a frustrated and unhappy person, because of those unfulfilled desires. Take the risk, plan to start that business venture that you always thought would give you the freedom lifestyle that you desired. Give in to that nudging feeling to switch careers, and see how far it can take you. Go after that girl that you secretly admire, but refuse to admit. Tell her how you feel and accept the outcome, because at the very least you will have your peace of mind.

Do not bottle up your secret desires, especially if they are enduring, because in the end they can consume you. Most of the time in life, the fear of the unknown becomes our greatest roadblock to achieving true success. Most people would prefer to remain with the familiar, staying in their comfort zone, rather than go after what they truly desire. If these secret desires refuse to fade away, then it is time you took the risk and pursued them. It may just be your inner voice trying to tell you to travel a different path, to find true success and happiness.

Preparation and Opportunity

With all the twists and turns on life's highway, being prepared can become a daunting task when we don't know what's waiting for us just around the next bend in the road. Oftentimes, preparation is a benefit we gain through living, losing, and learning what it takes, not only to survive, but to succeed. We learn what unique attributes we as individuals posses, that will keep us moving forward, when our feet get weary and the road gets long.

We learn what unique attributes we as individuals posses, that will keep us moving forward, when our feet get weary and the road gets long.

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Are You an Entrepreneur? The Answer Might Surprise You!

They don’t wait to be told what to do, or for conditions to be perfect, or to be handed the resources they need on a platter. In the spirit of a famous slogan, they just go out and do it. End of story. Sounds simple, right? But it’s not an easy process by any means.

It’s this kind of spirit that sees success as inevitable after hundreds of failures, rejections and setbacks. It’s this kind of spirit that enables the entrepreneur to pick themselves up off the floor, dust themselves off, and start all over again, even where the outcome is uncertain. It’s this kind of spirit that can hold a dream in perfect suspension in the imagination, believing in it even in the face of all odds, until the day it’s there in solid reality.

And the best part? You don’t even have to be building your own business to have entrepreneurial spirit. You can be working to transform a business – someone else’s business, or even the ‘business’ of a non-profit, university or government. This is called being an intrepreneur.

Admittedly this can be extremely challenging. You often won’t have control over all the resources you need. However, don’t forget our definition! Entrepreneurs progress with determination towards their goals despite not having the resources under their control. That’s the entrepreneurial way.

Yes, the entrepreneurial spirit is legendary. We know how to recognize it when we see it, but how do we build it? What character traits, skills and attributes should we work to develop if we wish to increase it?
Here are the 7 key skills of entrepreneurs:

Opinion varies as to the core set of skills that an entrepreneur requires. However, the ones we’ve shown below are a selection of the most popular from a variety of authority thought leaders on the subject from across the web.

1. Resilience

Remember those failures and setbacks we talked about earlier? The key trait an entrepreneur needs to get through hard times such as these is the ability to weather the storm.


“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.” – Greg Kincaid

2. Courage

It takes a lot of bravery to stand out from the crowd and to put yourself out there in the kind of way that’s necessary to build a business from the ground up.

3. Communication

You might have the best business plan in the world, but if you can’t communicate its key messages to others effectively, that’s exactly what it will remain … a plan. Communication is a much under-rated skill, but highly essential in the world of entrepreneurship.

4. Continuous Learning

As an entrepreneur, you are often a one man – or woman – band. That means a steep and rapid learning curve in all those areas you may be lacking. But the learning doesn’t stop there! Growth will bring new challenges and new learning opportunities when it comes. Having a positive attitude towards learning new things will hold you in a good position when you encounter new challenges… which will be often!

5. Curiosity

It may well have killed the cat, but curiosity is often the spark that gets entrepreneurial efforts underway in the first place. Wonderment about the world, and about how it could be different, encourages many budding entrepreneurs to go out and seek their own solutions, often for the benefit of many others.


“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein

6. Accountability

The ability to stand up and take responsibility for your actions, even in the face of failure, will stand you in good stead in the world of business. As we’ve often heard before, people do business with people they know, like and trust, and some integrity and a firm handshake will go a long way in the entrepreneurial world.

7. Empathy

It’s often called a ‘soft skill’, but the truth is that there is nothing lesser about having empathy for others. Great business leaders run customer-centric businesses, putting customer needs at the heart of their every business transaction. In order to do this, as a leader you need to be able to put yourself in the customer’s shoes. In other words, to develop a sense of empathy for who they are and what they need.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Then you’re probably raging to get started, if you haven’t gotten started already. For those who are considering dipping their toes in the ocean of entrepreneurship, there’s a wealth of information out there on the Internet. It’s sometimes all a little hard to sift through though, so we’ve done the hard work for you, bringing you the highlights in our favourite top 3 tips, shown below:
Diversify your income stream – This is not the time to put all your eggs in one basket. Try and spread your risk across a couple of income streams in order to stay afloat when tough times hit.
Network – It’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and this is especially true in the world of business. Just know that it doesn’t have to be all about throwing your business cards around like confetti. Try and use every opportunity to make a meaningful connection with someone new.
Be prepared for hard work – The first few years are often a slog, and for many, sometimes even the years after that. Very few businesses are overnight sensations. Be prepared to work extremely hard and cultivate a sense of patience… you’ll need it!
Have you ventured into the entrepreneurship world? Please leave your thoughts below!

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HOW I LEARNED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COURAGE & RECKLESSNESS

It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves – in finding themselves.” – Andre Gide

In 2007, a friend of mine invited me to join her on a three day supported ride of the Kokopelli trail. The trail started about 40 miles west of Grand Junction down Highway 70 and ended in Moab, Utah, just south of Arches National Park. The ride started as a tradition among a group of talented endurance mountain bikers who could have easily been mistaken for athletes from the X Games.

After a few years, the ride leaders started a tour company to help several dozen intermediate riders complete this “epic ride of a lifetime” every May. On their website, they rate the overall challenge level of the ride about halfway between “hard” and “insane.” But they also say that any intermediate rider who does the appropriate endurance training can complete the ride.
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When I signed up, I was excited. And nervous. I knew I could do the endurance and strength training. I was a bike commuter and on a bike racing team which meant I rode a lot. Ten miles a day during the week and long rides of thirty to fifty miles on the weekends. I’d just have to bump that weekend mileage up a bit to be ready.

What I was really nervous about was the desert. I was a beginner camper and had no experience navigating on my own. My boyfriend, who happened to be an experienced mountain search and rescue volunteer, quizzed me on first aid and survival skills before I went. Because, well, we had gone camping once.

The first day of the ride started badly. Within a few minutes of hitting the trail our group of seven splintered into a group of five-speed demons and two stragglers — I was one of the latter. I was taking it easy, unsure if I’d had enough time to adjust to the 4,000 ft altitude.

Later that afternoon, we regrouped. I finally understood what our five fastest riders were so excited about. We spent the afternoon riding a trail that had a series of smooth rolling hills on a slight decline. It made it feel like you were flying. I couldn’t wait to do it again!

The second day started worse. I took a wrong turn and lost contact with all of the other riders. The anxiety attack started almost immediately. Certain death seemed likely. I had visions of myself laying on the ground with severely sunburned, rotting flesh, begging for water. I started crying. I felt so alone.

I could see a highway in this distance. I considered flagging down a truck and asking them to take me to the nearest town. The fear of flagging down the one truck driver who was secretly a serial killer stopped me. I hated myself for signing up for this dumb ride.

I decided the desert was the better option. I took a deep breath and retraced my steps. When I made it back to the trail, I met up with Susan and John*, two other stragglers who asked me to join their group. They had met at the starting line on day one.

I imagine their conversation that first day went something like this.

Susan: What kind of training did you do for this ride?

John: I didn’t really train.

We were riding over a mountain range with several thousand feet of elevation gain a day. My friends and I had trained for months building up to six or seven-hour rides over lots of hills.

Susan: What kind of maps did you bring?

John: I don’t have a map.

Each member of my group had their own SET of maps. We were completely responsible for navigating between the starting point, lunch, and our night time camping spots.
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Susan: How much water do you have?

John: Half a CamelBak.

We were in a desert in nearly 100-degree heat on a trail with no available drinking water. We only got a chance to fill up our water containers at a designated lunch spot and our night time camp. We were told to bring the largest water reservoirs we could carry.

By the time I met Susan and John, John said he was tired and didn’t want to ride anymore. Susan quietly told me she was worried about him. As other riders joined our group, I ended up with the job of keeping an eye on John.

It was so hot and John was so quiet that I worried he might be suffering from heat exhaustion. I tried to keep him talking to monitor his mental state. He told me he couldn’t talk. I offered to tell him stories, but he said he couldn’t concentrate. I kept trying to get him to talk anyways. I’m not sure which one of us was more grateful when we made it to the lunch spot.

John decided that he was going to stop riding — which was the best decision for his safety, and meant that we didn’t have to spend the rest of the day worrying about him. Susan and I set off for the afternoon ride without him. It was scorching hot. We leapfrogged between shade trees with other riders as we climbed.

We made slow progress — our morning adventure with the man who wasn’t remotely prepared for this ride had taken its toll. And the oppressive heat didn’t make it easy to recover. At nearly 8pm that night, we were two of the last riders to arrive at camp.

We were also two of the last riders to leave camp the next morning. It was our third and last day of riding. And about halfway through the day we would ride part of one of the most famous mountain biking trails in the country: Porcupine Rim.

About a half-mile into Porcupine Rim, I tore my front brake. We couldn’t fix it on the trail. We started walking down into town. That’s when the giggling started. And it didn’t stop.

Because I had signed up for this ride to prove to myself that I was something special. And after riding nearly 150 miles over the La Sal mountains, getting lost, babysitting an alarmingly unprepared rider, breaking my bike, and surviving 3 days in the desert in near triple-digit heat,it just seemed hilarious that I had ever questioned myself. I didn’t need any more crazy endurance rides to know what I was capable of.

We all have times where the path in front of us is intimidating, when we feel lost, and when the things we depend on break. Our job is to respect those feelings, but not let them stop us.

Because the guy who isn’t worried enough about his safety to bring enough water to the desert is in more danger than he realizes. But the girl whose anxiety leads her to take first aid classes, train for months, bring her own set of maps and then laughs at how silly her anxiety was when everything goes horribly wrong? You can bet on her.

Growth happens when you are ready for it. What you do to get to the starting line matters.

Have you ever had a moment where you realized you were more prepared than you thought? Or met someone else who made you appreciate the experience you had that you took for granted?

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Dream, Believe, Achieve

Dream.

Dreaming is for everyone; for you and for me. There aren't any age restrictions; you are never too old or too young to dream. There aren't any limitations; it's never too late or too early to dream. Dreaming keeps you going; it is something that you are looking forward to reach, each and every day, someday. Your status, gender and age don't restrict you from dreaming more. It doesn't matter if it's simple or extravagant, big or small, a dream is a dream. It is everyone's right to have one; yours and mine, and no one has the right to judge someone regarding their ambitions in life. Dreams make every sole individual's core being; your core being, the fulfilment of it is everyone's goal in life; your goal in life. Every day everyone strives and works hard to reach these dreams, including you. There might be some instances wherein you face some hindrances but don't ever let anyone or anything delay you or stop you from grabbing hold of your dreams.

Believe.

They say it's hard to believe, to trust, and to remain loyal to something, wherein you have invested all your effort and time, and still nothing happens. But you have to keep in mind that for something to actually happen you have to acquire the right amount of effort, time and the most important of all, patience. Like for example you want to change your life, you want to earn more money, these scenarios don't happen in a flash nor overnight, it takes time to do this; do you think Bill Gates became the richest man in the world right after creating Windows? No he didn't. He worked hard and believed in himself that he can do it, that's why he is where he is right now. Don't ever say that you have done everything that you have given everything and you have nothing left. Nothing is never enough, before saying that you have had enough, ask yourself first, 'Have I really given everything I have? Am I really giving up now when I have already put so much effort in it?' If you answered 'No', then don't stop, continue to give more and believe in yourself that you can do it, be confident and trust yourself. Don't let anyone or anything push you down, walk over you and intimidate you. No one is ever better than anyone. Believe in what you can do, not what just other people tell you what you can do. Do not let other people limit your abilities. You know yourself better than them, don't listen to what they say instead listen to yourself, your inner self, start believing.

Achieve.

Everyone wants to achieve their dreams and goals in life, who doesn't anyway? But in order to achieve anything and everything you want, you have to possess the right attitude. Even if you have all the abilities in the world, without the right attitude, you are going nowhere. You may be able to achieve what you want but with just a matter of time you'll lose it. Once you achieve your dreams and goals in life, always keep your feet on the ground, never look down on others, bear in mind that you were once in their shoes. Don't ever forget where you came from and remember the people who helped you in reaching and achieving your dreams.

Keep dreaming. Keep believing. It might take a little while to get what you want but when you achieve it, every single drop of sweat, endless effort and time will be wiped away by the happiness and fulfillment it brings and for sure you will say to yourself, 'It was worth it!'

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10 Powerful Ways To Boost Your Self-Confidence

Confidence gives you the power to conquer the world. It separates the fearful from the successful. Confident people face their fears and tend to be risk-takers. They live life in a positive light and are satisfied with the world around them.

Wouldn't it be amazing to live life this way? Guess what? You can. Try some of the tips listed below. Practice them daily. Over time, your self-confidence will become higher than you ever thought it could be. You will be able to overcome your fears, pursue your dreams, and sing at the next karaoke night.

Here is a list of 10 powerful ways to boost your self-confidence:

1. Think positive. The human brain has a tendency to think more negatively, it takes a conscious effort to be more positive. Either you can rule your mind or you can let it rule you -become aware of your negative self-talk. The thoughts you have about yourself are very powerful. Think about all of the amazing qualities you have instead.

2. Take care of yourself. Confidence not only comes from how you feel on the inside, but how you feel on the outside as well. Shower, spend some extra time curling your hair and wear a great outfit. And if you're a guy, then well, shave. Doing these little things will make you feel more successful and ready to tackle the world.

3. Get prepared. Whether your day is filled with meetings or exams, get prepared for them. Do the research needed for that important meeting and study hard for the exam. It's hard to be confident if you don't think you'll do well

4. Exercise. Truth is, "exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy", said by the truly confident, Elle Woods. Not only will you feel better, but you will look better. All you have to do is walk a few times a week. Create a habit and get active.

5. Set a small goal and achieve it. People often set a big goal then get discouraged when they fail. Shoot for something more achievable. You'll get a boost of confidence and be more likely to tackle the next small goal. Like a domino effect, you'll eventually reach your big goal with ease.

6. Be grateful. Being grateful is a very positive and rewarding activity. It puts your mind in a positive light and can be extremely humbling. Make a gratitude list and add to it daily. You will begin to realize all of the great opportunities you have in life and awesome qualities you possess.

7. Be kind and generous. Being kind and generous with your time is a great way to improve your self-image. Hold the door for a stranger or buy someone a coffee. It will not only improve your relationships but make you feel better, trust us.

8. Volunteer. Make the lives of others better by volunteering; in return your life will better. Could you find the time to feed the homeless, pitch in at church, or start a nonprofit?

9. Get out of your comfort zone. When you do things that make you feel a little uncomfortable, your comfort zone gets bigger and your confidence rises. You will grow as a person and learn to experience new things.

10. Keep a list of your awesomeness handy. Sit down and create a list of all of your awesome qualities. Are you smart, organized, creative, or modest? Write down your achievements. Revisit the list daily or whenever you're feeling discouraged.

Applying some of these daily can help you overcome limitations and push you to achieve your biggest goals. Feeling more confident is a necessary part of living a happier, more fulfilling life.

If you think you're lacking self-confidence and want some guidance and someone to hold you accountable to the list above, connect with one of our confidence coaches.

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Taking Charge Of Your Life Right Now

What does it take to take charge of your life? When does it make sense to make the kind of changes that taking charge of your life implies? When you want to take charge of your life, you have questions you need to answer.

Courage and Confidence

It takes courage and confidence to take charge of your life. You might not feel an abundance in these areas right now if you're looking at taking charge of your life. Yet you have been courageous and confident during previous times in your life. Life requires courage! Life demands confidence!

Courage enables you to consider what might be a better set of choices. Courage gives you the get up and go to pick yourself up and take action. Courage does not replace fear. Instead, courage allows you to go forward despite fear that might be suggesting that it's too risky to move in the direction of your dreams.

Confidence allows you to use your talents and abilities in new ways. Confidence puts your skills to work in different circumstances. Confidence does not remove doubt. Rather, confidence allows you to do what you know how to do. Regardless of the doubt you may be feeling. In spite of reminders that today's circumstances are not precisely identical to how you've used your skills in the past.

Change.

Change is inevitable. Life is filled with changes. Over the course of your lifetime, you'll live in an environment that presents many things to you, sometimes overwhelming you with the sense that your entire life is filled with change. As you face challenges and deal with change, it makes sense to adapt to the new situations that arise.

Taking charge of your life has to do with adjusting to the change as it occurs. Dramatic sudden change can leave your mind spinning. That's one time when taking charge of your life demands that you reach for all the courage and confidence you can muster.

Skills.

You'll need to learn new skills. Times of change instill new skills. You can decide that you're willing to use your courage and confidence to gain the skills you need.

In fact, deciding is taking charge of your life. Because that makes it happen. I've found that when I reach deep for courage and confidence, I can decide to take action. I take charge of my life! I find that leads to happiness.

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Moving Forward: How to Maintain Change for Positive Results

Many people make resolutions for the New Year. Most people start strong and will continue for several months. Then throughout the year, things happen and get you off track. You find yourself losing motivation and finally no longer on track. It's difficult to keep up change but it is possible to reach your final goals!

When you begin to set goals, be sure you include some extra tools to keep you focused and motivated. One tool is when you know and understand your purpose for your goals, it helps you stay motivated. You set up your commitment because you know you have to fulfill your purpose. For example, if your goal is to exercise more because the doctor has informed you that it help reverse your heart condition, then your purpose is to reverse your heart condition. It can also help avoid surgeries which help avoid missing work and financial issues. Your commitment and determination can be fueled by the reason why you developed your goal in the first place.

Another tool is being sure your goals are within reach. Don't try to set goals that are unrealistic. It just sets you up for failure. For example, if your goal is to climb a mountain but you've never been near a mountain and you're afraid of heights, you may want to start with some basics steps before climbing the mountain. You may need to get some counseling for your fear of heights and then do small adventures like going to a theme park and ride the tallest ride there. You may even consider a hiking trip with friends that lead to a place with a view overlooking a city. This process may take a year or two so take your time! Set realistic goals in order help keep up your progress.

The other tool is having a support system. This can definitely help with maintaining your new behavior and habits. It is common to see people exercise and diet within a group setting because it a support system. There's normally a higher success rate that they successfully keep up their dieting and exercise habits because of that support system. Some people get gym trainers, life coaches, business coaches, etc. to help them because those individual becomes their accountability partner. Be sure to select your support system carefully because you should select the one that will work best for you!

As you move forward, be sure you have some goals set! Be sure you have all the tools you need to keep up the positive change. You will encounter some tough moments but just know that you can and will succeed!

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7 Valuable Lessons to Learn While Escaping Your Comfort Zone

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. So if you’re feeling uncomfortable right now, know that the change taking place in your life is the beginning, not the ending.”– Neale Donald Walsch

The comfort zone; one place which destroys all your potential and belief to live an extraordinary life. Living outside of your comfort zone means mental and psychological growth, which we all need to live a happy life and enjoy it to the fullest.


7 Valuable Lessons to Learn While Escaping Your Comfort Zone

I have written this article to motivate you and to encourage you, to give you enough reasons why stepping out of your comfort zone may be the best decision you can make for yourself and your future.

Here are 7 valuable lessons which teach you what life is truly about:


1. You Will Push Your Limits

We all have certain limits in what we can or can’t do. Stepping out of your comfort zone will push those limits and make bigger space for you to expand. What you thought is impossible a few months ago is now part of your daily life. Isn’t it crazy?

Stop for a second right now and think of the one moment when you got out of your way and acted in spite of fear. Think about it and ask yourself, “If I was able to do it back then, why not try it again?”


2. You Will Expand Your Potential

Have you ever thought how much potential and energy you have within you? The amount is enormous. Why don’t you use it? Why not take a chance and see what happens?

People don’t become successful because of the money or the right influences. Individuals who made it to the top knew that comfort zone is a broke zone. They also knew that using their potential is the fuel behind extraordinary results.

Once you start expanding your potential, it will become a habit, a source of euphoria you experience and enjoy it at the same time.


3. You’ll Gain Undeniable Courage

To gain muscles, you need to train them on a constant basis right? The same happens with courage. Only by overcoming a fear of the unknown and going beyond your comfort zone, you will become braver than ever before.


We don’t become courageous by watching House of Cards in our favorite sweatpants in the comfort of our home.

Courage comes in a moment when we decide to fight for what we want no matter the situation or feeling. Feeling will pass, but what we create or become will last much longer.


4. You’ll Become Confident In Yourself

The World outside of your comfort zone may seem scary. We don’t know what is out there, whether pleasant moments or difficulties. But this unknown environment is exactly what build us up, makes us stronger and braver for the future.

Overcoming what we fear builds confidence and healthy self-esteem, which is an essential part of every success in life.

Try to recall the last time you acted in a courageous way and think of the feeling after you have succeeded.

How did you feel about yourself? How did you see yourself when you looked in the mirror? You felt proud; you felt satisfied, and this is exactly the kind of reward you gain by going the extra mile.


5. You’ll Become Stronger & Unstoppable

Living outside of your comfort zone will teach you many lessons.

By getting hit by unpleasant moments and circumstances, you will become stronger every time situation happens, and you overcome it.

This strength will build up your character and shape you as an individual with a powerful mindset, ready to face any challenge along the way.

As you will grow and see the difference you can make in your life and how the power of mind really works, you will become unstoppable in reaching what you desire the most.


6. It Will Excite You to Share It With Others

Once you’ve expanded your mindset and see what is beyond your comfort zone, you will realize that many people are stuck. People don’t believe in themselves, and that’s why they are trying to avoid any opportunity for growth or change.

Not everyone will welcome your advice to follow your path or to try it out. That’s fine.

But there are going to be those individuals who feel as excited as you. I believe it is your and my responsibility to share with others that beyond our limits is a much better world which is worth every single struggle and sacrifice.
7. You’ll Gain Encouragement & Belief to Create Life on Your Terms

By expanding your potential, gaining confidence in yourself and having a clear picture of what is out there, you will feel encouraged and alive.

It will bring you a sense of determination to create a life based on your biggest dreams and desires, the one you want, not your boss or teacher or parents.

Once you practice living life outside of your comfort zone, you will strengthen your belief in yourself and a better life. You’ll get the opportunity to discover a whole new level of possibilities which you had no idea exist.


Conclusion

Eliminate the ceiling above your head.

Get rid of this illusion you have created in your mind where you subconsciously sabotage yourself from growth. Real deal begins when you are willing to feel as uncomfortable as possible.

Fear doesn’t exist; it is a product of your thoughts, and you are the only person who has the power to destroy it.

Once you overcome this fear of the unknown, I guarantee you that you will not want to come back to your ordinary life.

Once you taste the power of your mind, once you grow and see what you are truly capable of, you will begin the most amazing, courageous and insane adventure of creating an extraordinary life.

Are you struggling to move out of your comfort zone? Leave a comment below.

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6 Simple Soul & Mind Nourishing Activities We Often Forget About

“Affirmations are our mental vitamins, providing the supplementary positive thoughts we need to balance the barrage of negative events and thoughts we experience daily.” – Tia Walker

Are you spending more time taking care of others or yourself?

Know that either extreme is making you lose your power to build and sustain a happy life.

If you lose yourself in caring for others, you might end up merely existing and not living. Plus, those people you care for, become dependent and get lost in life as well. If you get too much self-involved and self-centred, you end up alone.

6 Soul & Mind Nourishing Activities

Therefore, find your balance between giving and taking; between offering your time and energy to others and yourself; between caring for other and caring for yourself.

Because most people tend to lose themselves in satisfying, mainly other people’s needs and wants, here are 6 things to nourish your mind and soul:


1. Time For Yourself

If you are the carer (as a parent, a spouse, an employer, for example), which un-avertable you are no matter what you do for a living, looking after people by choice or occupation, you might be one of those people that feel guilty and selfish to take time for yourself.

Are you?

Listen, it is admirable what you are doing, and I bow to you; yet, at the same time, I want to ask you: for how long do you think you can keep it up if you don’t take care of yourself as well? If you don’t take some time for yourself too?

An overworked, tired and unhappy carer has an adverse impact on those for which is caring. Is it not? A child can’t be happy and grow harmoniously raised by an unhappy parent. An employee can’t be productive led by a stressed and overwhelmed boss.

Can they?

Therefore, occasionally be selfish and take time for yourself. Put your fear and anxieties aside and let the Earth spin around without your help and attention. Remember that, in that circumstance being selfish is an act of self-preservation and, ultimately altruism.

When you care for others, you are like a machine that needs maintenance, oiling, and rest, to work properly.

Concern yourself less about what people may say about you and stay focused on the result you want: offering valuable, meaningful, and sustainable care, service, leadership, help, and whatever else you have to give.



2. The Courage to Say NO

As a child, I’ve struggled because not my parents, nor the other adults around knew how to be assertive, how to put their foot down and then help me to move forward.

I had to, consistently, second guess my behavior, lose valuable time in finding by myself what is expected from me and what are the rules of living in the society.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not complaining, I’m just saying that there are better ways to grow, improve and learn, other than the hard way.

Pay attention, being assertive is not just a way to let people know what you want, but is a duty as well. Overcome your fear of saying No!

Overcome your negative preconceptions (if you have) about being an assertive person and put your foot down, say “no” when you need to and say “yes” only when is the right thing to do.


3. Listen to Your Inner Voice

Life has this habit of going on with you or without you. Don’t let it slip away without having any say about it. Listen to your inner voice and allow yourself guided by your wisdom.

If you are one of these people, always on the run, always doing something important, always using your time to build something concrete, tangible, most likely you know what I’m referring to when I say;


“LIFE HAS THIS HABIT OF GOING ON WITH YOU OR WITHOUT YOU.”

You know that you’re going through motions without listening to your inner voice for days on end or even months and years.


Note that your inner voice is not the same thing with self-talk. Your inner voice is telling you what you need (mind, soul, and body), what make you sad, what is hurting you, what is helpful, how to protect yourself; It comes from your deeper self, the wisest part of you.

On the other hand, self-talk (internal dialogue) is the way you represent how you see the world and yourself and it comes from learning, experience, and beliefs.

Listen to your inner voice; it has many things to tell you if you are willing to hear it out.


4. Respect

How much thought and attention do you put into the words you’re saying to others? I guess, a lot! Do you have the same consideration towards yourself?

Self-respect starts with valuing who you are and it is manifested, the most, by the way, you talk to yourself and about yourself. And, then, it is what you do with and what you put into your perfect vehicle: your body!

And, the last one, but as important as the other two, self-respect is how you speak to and about people because what you say about others is more a reflection of who you are and less who they are. Is it not?


5. Compassion

In a society that you are encouraged more and more to strive and focus mainly on achievement, career and success, how many of us feel content and satisfied with who they are, how they look, how much they accomplish?

The standards are so high and still going up and up that almost no human can keep up. No wonder so many people have low self-esteem and confidence issues.

How about setting your own standards? How about taking, periodically, breaks to recharge and refresh? Moments to re-evaluate the validity of what is expected of you? Yet, even better! what if you add to those moments and breaks, a bit of self-compassion?

Self-compassion is food for your mind and soul. It allows you to understand that whatever you do when you’re doing it, you believe to be the best action.

Judging your former self with the knowledge you have today is unfair. Is it not? Aren’t you more knowledgeable, wiser, more skilled, more aware of things than ten years ago? You, definitely, are! You are much better even compared to yesterday.

Give yourself compassion and believe that you are doing the best you know how in each moment of your life. If that is not enough for the society and your environment, that what could be, if any?


6. Connection

Success and accomplishment is a sad place to be in if you have no one to share them with. A big mansion means nothing for your level of happiness and contentment if you spend your days alone in it.

Aren’t being happy and healthy, feeling safe and free, what you want the most in life?
Being alone in the big mansion is a self-made prison; eating by yourself is a health hazard; walking alone through the vicissitudes of life can become a safety issue quickly.


THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW YOUR BIGGEST DESIRES IN LIFE CAN GET LOST AND DISSIPATE BEHIND SMOKING MIRRORS WHEN YOU HAVE NO MEANINGFUL CONNECTION TO OTHER PEOPLE.

Next time when you see people that prefer to stay in unhealthy and unhappy relationships, don’t ask yourself why are they doing it because loneliness is a bigger load to bear than hardship alongside to others.

That being said, choose this better option: gather around you people that you enjoy spending time with; people that love, appreciate, value, and accept you as you are.

Stay connected, reach out, build long-lasting and meaningful relationships and feel happy, healthy, safe and free no matter if you live in a mansion or a shack.


Summary

Time for yourself
The courage to say NO
Listen to your inner voice
Respect
Compassion
Connection
What other mind nourishing activities do you partake in? Leave a comment below.

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