Surrounding Yourself With The Right Company Is Vital To Your Success

You'll eventually become some individuals who surround you that's something I learned painfully costly way.

Everybody features a story and so they all contain pros and cons choices through which we take pride in and decisions we regret making. This is often difficult remembrances that people must live, but ultimately, it comes down lower towards the lessons we could glean from them.

We are all reflections of the people we keep in our lives and interact with on a daily basis. Their actions and behaviors all resonate and subconsciously influence our everyday choices.

Associate with people who make you feel happy

It's so crucial that you have those who satisfy you. Those who lead you to laugh and who enable you to whenever you require assistance - those who genuinely care. Individuals are the type who're worth keeping within your existence everyone else is just passing through.

Your atmosphere shapes who you are and who you will become. You're in general control of your existence as well as the products that you employ, why not filter the negative surroundings and place yourself in a positive and fascinating atmosphere, the one that suits your needs?

The most effective example is to look at most likely the very best figures nowadays. How come you think the elite make an effort to place themselves in environments full of like-minded individuals?

Surprisingly, the very best and efficient people have weakness that are similar to yours. Surrounding themselves as well as other individuals, who're round the same path or who had been through similar journeys, enables them to educate to learn more about themselves.

Connecting yourself with individuals who're round the journey to produce modifications in their lives and yours, rather than individuals that aren't in any great position or aren't developing a difference, is crucial to grow as a person.

Heroines or notable figures that individuals need to become don't always have to be well-known. It might be your nearest friend or somebody you know - somebody to help you and encourage you to definitely help you to be the person you have to be and who is able to guide you through the journey.

Our egos possess an inclination to trick us we regularly choose to neglect our weaknesses and set them aside. Rather, accept them and use them as leverage to acquire where you have to be.

Talk to like-minded individuals.

If you want to get wealthy, have those who share your objectives or who have formerly achieved them. Desire to start your individual company?

Start networking with established entrepreneurs - those who share the identical dreams, or individuals who've already done your work.

Let existence eliminate individuals from your existence who you wouldn't like around. Don't have the toxicity and negativity of those who don't increase the need for your existence people who've no prosperous impact on your life only would love you to stay around to fulfill their requirements. Have the innovators, the thinkers as well as the listeners individuals who desire to set an alteration by leaving a footprint inside their existence and yours, individuals who are ready to help others before helping themselves. Focus on their tales - you will probably study a factor or even more.

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

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10 Habits Of Fit And Healthy People

Have you ever met anyone who is a health fanatic? Maybe they rarely touch dessert or fried chicken, or they go to the gym every day. Maybe their favorite lunch includes a whole grain bread sandwich with sprouts and a wheat-grass juice chaser? Possibly they don't engage in unhealthy behaviors like, smoking or excessive drinking?

There are people who live by a strict code of health that of course includes regular exercise and a healthy diet.

These people never miss a checkup, they stay up to date with all the latest medical news and take great care to follow their doctor's orders.

What sets these people apart?

Taking care of themselves is their highest priority. These people take their health seriously, it is engrained in them and a huge part of who they are. They live by the code of self care, and are rarely tempted by the indulgences some of us take part in every day.

Good health really does come down to self-care that is at the core of all health conscious people, it is what drives and motivates their behavior. They care about their health, their wellbeing and living healthy lives.

Many have had this attitude their whole lives, and for some it all began in childhood with parents who role modeled positive health habits. But, in reality, anyone can adopt this attitude, even if it is not something you learned while growing up.

Good self-care can be learned and adopted at any age, and a good place to start is by learning about the 10 habits of these healthy folks who make self-care a priority.

10 Habits Of Healthy People

Habit #1: To Exercise Or Not Is Not An Option

Healthy people get exercise on a regular basis. They rarely wonder if they should go to the gym or not, they just go. They workout with gusto, some because they love it, and for some it is simply necessary for good health, a great body, disease prevention and overall wellbeing.

Habit #2: Moderation

Healthy people understand moderation. They don't eat whole bags of chips, and they do not regularly eat junk food or unhealthy sweets. They have accepted that these foods are not conducive to their health and they are simply not a regular diet choice.

Healthy people enjoy an occasional indulgence, but, instead of eating a whole slice of cake, they eat one or two bites. Some may occasionally order French fries, but it is only on a rare occasion.

They pay attention to portion sizes and avoid mindless eating that can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Their typical diet is filled with healthy whole foods that support their health, improve their energy levels and prevent chronic disease.

Habit #3: Setting Priorities

Health conscious people know how to set priorities. They don't look for excuses to skip a workout, instead they make those workouts a priority, even if that means skipping an evening out, or postponing some other activity that interferes. Exercise always takes priority on their daily schedules.

Habit #4: Goal Setting

Healthy people set goals that they wish to achieve. Whether it is to maintain a certain weight, or to lift a certain weight, or to improve some aspect of their fitness and health level, they set goals and plan what needs to be done to achieve them.

Habit #5: Set Time For Relaxation

Healthy people set aside time for relaxation and plan activities that help them to de-stress. They understand that self-care is not only about the things you do, but also about things you don't do. Too much work, the hustle and bustle of life and everyday tension that results from a busy lifestyle must be counteracted with enough relaxation so that stress does not become an impact on good health.

Healthy people understand that relaxation is a reset button and they take the time to push that button regularly.

Habit #6: Stay In Touch With Their Bodies

Healthy people are in touch with their bodies, they pay attention to what their body and also their mind needs as they strive for optimal health and wellness.

Habit #7: Social Relationships

Healthy people strive for healthy social interactions and inter-personal relationships. They know that their emotional state and overall fulfillment plays a key role in their health.

Habit #8: Sleep

A big part of self care is getting enough sleep every single night and health conscious people strive to do so because it helps them to be healthier and function at their very best throughout the day.

Habit #9: No Addictions

Healthy people don't engage in addictive behaviors, including, smoking, illicit drugs and excessive alcohol use.

Habit #10: Preventative Care

Healthy people get regular preventative health screenings, as well as, preventative care. They visit their doctor and get tests like those for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes.

They get regular physicals, mammograms, testicular exams and pap smears to ensure there are no issues that need their immediate attention.

They also engage in regular preventative care, like visiting the dentist for cleanings and eye care specialists for eye exams.

How About You?

Simply implement these habits into your life and you too can become healthy and fit!

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How to achieve your goals in 12 steps by Brian Tracy

1. Have a desire

What is that one thing that you truly desire? That one thing that makes you excited, keeps you up at night, makes you feel butterflies in your stomach?

This is not the moment to be logical and think what you should want in your life. Put your logic aside and listen to your heart. Allow yourself to desire whatever you want. You know the saying think big? Well, desire big, too!

2. Believe

You have to absolutely believe you can achieve your goal. If you start by doubting your possibilities one thing will happen for sure – you will fail. It’s been even proven by scientist and it’s called a self-fulfilling prophecy: what you expect, eventually manifest itself in your reality.

On the contrary, if you really believe you can do it, you wil start seeing all the possibilities to make it happen, you will have more courage and energy to chase your dreams.

It is not always easy to have that kind of faith. We have all failed more than once and we fear that we can fail again.

So what can you do to help yourself believe you can achieve your goals?

Set smaller goals for yourself first, so you can see and enjoy your small successes. Slowly, increase your goals. The worst thing you can do is set too big of a goal, something unrealistic. You almost force yourself to fail and prove to yourself that you are not strong enough. So start small. Build your faith and courage.

3. Write it down

There is something magical about writing things down. Psychologists have proven that we become more committed to what we write down versus what we say. So write down your goals.

Brian suggest a 3P formula for writing down your goals: use present, positive and personal statement.

That means that if your goal is to earn USD 500,000 by the end of the year, you should write: I earn USD 500,000 by the end of this year. You use verbs in present tense, you use positive language (you write what you want, not what you don’t want) and you write in 1st person: I.

4. Analyze your starting point

You know where you want to get. Analyzing where you are now allows you to understand what you will need to do. If your goal is to be 55kg then you need to know your current weight to know how much you need to lose and plan it accordingly.

Be honest with yourself. This is not the moment to allow your ego sabotage your efforts. Whatever your goal is, do a thorough analysis of your strengths and weaknesses in this area.

5. Determine why you want to excel in this area

Knowing why you want to achieve a particular goal will help you stay focused on it in moments of difficulties and doubt. Usually when we start working on a new project, we are very excited and super motivated. But those feelings don’t last forever. They usually come and go.

So take some time to write down at least 5 reasons why you want to achieve your goal. How will your life improve once you get it? How will your relationships look like?

Make a list (yes, write it down!) and keep it always available to you.

6. Set a deadline

Setting deadlines for your goals is one of the main rules for achieving them. Having a deadline helps you in 2 ways. Firstly, it allows you to plan. You start by deciding when you want to achieve your goal, and plan backwards. This way you will know how much you need to work on your goal every month, ever week and every day.

Secondly, it adds a pressure. Humans are lazy by nature. Setting deadlines adds a pressure that motivates us to work.

Think of any assignment you had to do at work on in the university. Have you ever procrastinated on it until a deadline came and you had no other choice but to do it?

Your deadline is your best guess about when the goal should be achieved. Don’t worry so much about not meeting it. In some cases, you won’t. But it doesn’t mean you failed. Deadlines are there to help us achieve our goals, but by no means are they determinants of our success.

Once you know a deadline for your goal, set deadlines for all the steps you will need to accomplish beforehand.

7. Identify the obstacles

I can guarantee that you will encounter difficulties on your way to achieving your desired outcome. But don’t let that discourage you. Everybody who has achieved great goals in their lives, had to overcome some kind of obstacles.

Think of what could be an obstacle for you. Knowing what the worst case scenario can be, allows you to be prepared. So if the obstacle does appear (though it doesn’t always have to), you will know exactly what to do.

Brian gives a very interesting theory on obstacles. He uses a famous Pareto rule of 80/20 and explains it this way: 80% of all obstacles comes from within us, and only 20% are due to external factors. This is a good news. It means that you have control on 80% of what could stop you from achieving your goals. these are usually some traits in our personality or lack of skills. And you can work on all of them.

8. Determine the additional knowledge and skill you need

You have a goal. Now ask yourself why is it that this goals is not yet a reality? You probably need to get some new skills and knowledge to achieve it. identify them. Understand what new skills you need to pick to become an expert in the field and to help you get where you want. Create a list of books, events and courses you will need to take to get there. This is how you work on that 80% of obstacles – the part that lies within us.

9. Determine the people you’ll need

At more than one time you will need help from somebody. Identify key people for your success. Who can teach you what you need to know? Who can help you stay focused and motivated?

Once you have that list, start working on relationships with these people. Offer then your help first. Don’t expect them to help you if you are not willing to do the same for them. Be genuine and honest. Don’t use anybody for your goals, but create real relationships beneficial for both of you.

10. Make a plan

You’ve probably heard the saying that what doesn’t get planned doesn’t get done. Or as Benjamin Franklin once said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Having a plan for achieving your goal is essential to your success. Without it, how will you know what to work on? We have limited resources (like time and energy) and you need to make sure you put them to the right use.

Make a plan. This is your roadmap. But stay flexible. Observe how the environment changes. You might need to adjust your plan more than once. Be open for it. Planning itself is a part of your success.

11. Visualize

This is a very important part for you to achieve your goals, unfortunately often ignored. Visualization is a great tool to help you get where you want to get. And its powers are almost limitless.

Create a habit of visualizing what you want. If you want to lose weight, see yourself with the body of your dreams. If you want to have your own business, picture yourself as a successful businessman. By doing so you activate your subconscious, or as Brian calls it – your supermind.

Here is how the magic works. Your external (the world you live in) is a reflection of your internal (your imagination, beliefs). If you want to change the external, you need to first change the internal. In an almost magical way you will see how the world changes to fit your internal.

It works because of the 2 laws. First one is what we’ve already discussed: self-fulling prophecy. Visualizing having achieved your goals makes you behave in a way that helps you notice all the possibilites and dismiss any obstacles. That keeps you focused and motivated.

The second law is called the Law of Attraction. It states that whatever it is that you mostly think of, whatever it is that you are always focused on and truly desire, will be attracted to you. You will suddenly notice that the right people and the right opportunities come to your life.

12. Never give up

The key to achieving your goal is persistence. No matter how much talent you have, if you don’t persist, you might just give up right before your big breakthrough. Don’t let any failures discourage you. You already know that obstacles will happen. Whenever they do – work ont hem and keep going forward. Once you decide you want to achieve a goal, make a decision to never ever give up.

Conclusions

You can apply it to any goal you have in life: be it your financial or career goals, or your family and relationships goals.

To really apply Brian Tracy's amazing Goal Setting techniques, CLICK HERE. 

It will change the way you set your goals FOREVER!

SOURCE

The Secret to Achieving Any Personal Growth Goal!

We all have unfulfilled desires-aspects of our lives we want to change or grow. And we all know - from experience - that having a desire, an intention, or even a plan is not enough. How many times have you wished, intended, and planned to lose weight, start meditating, write that novel, get a new job, or change a relationship pattern-only to find yourself repeating the same old habits that give you the same old results?

There is one tested and proven secret to attract and create what you desire. This secret has been used by the leaders in every field to achieve every kind of goal. It's not natural talent, perfect timing, or good fortune. It's something we all can do, no matter who we are or what we've been through.

That secret is Daily Practice - taking one action every day to engage in what you desire.

Daily Practice is the way you take life into your own hands-and invite Providence to assist you. It insures that you live your priorities and shows the Universe what's important to you. It insures that what is most important isn't pushed aside.

To create a powerful and sustainable Daily Practice - one that is both doable and effective, simply ask yourself the following 12 questions. You don't have to take a lot of time with this or give it a lot of thought-though you can, if you want. Simply ask yourself each question and see what comes to mind. Then, go on to the next question.

Are you ready?

Here we go!

QUESTION #1: What is your number one personal growth goal?

What is most important to you right now? What's your dream? Choose one thing you want to practice, no matter how big or small.

QUESTION #2: Why do you want to practice this?

What's your purpose? What do you hope to experience, gain, or contribute?

If you don't know why you are doing something, it will fall by the wayside. When you don't feel like doing it or when something else comes up, you will let it go. Knowing your "why" keeps you going strong!

QUESTION #3: What exactly will you do?

Define the actions you will take.

For instance saying "I'm going to eat healthier" and "I'm going to start exercising" are good intentions, but poorly defined practices. Instead, it would be better to say that "I'm going to stop eating fried foods and I will eat at least one cup of fresh fruit or vegetables three times a day" or "I will take a brisk walk for twenty minutes every morning." Be specific.

QUESTION #4: How often will you practice?

The recommended answer here is "daily." Daily practice establishes your practice as a part of your circadian rhythm, your 24-hour life cycle. Actions repeated daily become "grooved" faster, run deeper, and have greater effect. So, do at least one thing, every day that moves your practice forward.

QUESTION #5: When will you practice?

Set a time. Then, put it on your schedule.

If you don't schedule it, inevitably, other things will come up. Before you know it, you'll be at the end of the day. It's likely that you will feel too tired at that point. Then, you'll put it off until tomorrow. My friend, Matt Clarkson, passed along a great illustration about "tomorrow." He tells me there's a pub in England with a sign that says, "Free Beer Tomorrow."

QUESTION #6: How long will you practice?

Commit to a specific minimum. If anything, under-commit, so you'll say, "Oh that's nothing, I can do that." If you commit to too much, you're more likely to skip it or see it as "too much effort." Once you get started, you're likely to do more because you're "into it." So, start small and expand from there.

QUESTION #7: Where will you practice?

It's important to choose a place that's conducive to what you're doing. For instance, if you are starting to meditate and you try to do it in a busy or noisy place, it's not likely to work well.

To support your practice, decorate your space with appropriate pictures, quotes, or décor that signifies what you are doing and why it's important to you.

QUESTION #8: Do you need any special equipment, supplies, or support for your practice?

Some examples include: having the right food in your house for your nutrition or weight loss practice, having the right tools and materials for your creative project, setting appointments with a personal trainer for your workouts, or downloading a guided meditation to support your meditation practice.

What will help you succeed?

QUESTION #9: How will you track your practice?

Especially when starting something new, it's a great idea to keep a journal in which you define what you're doing and why, list your goals, and make notes on your experiences.

Logging your efforts makes your practice more concrete, substantial, and real. It records the work you've put in. You are more likely to stick with something that you've put a lot into it.

Making notes on your practice also enables you to review what you've done.

QUESTION #10: How often will you review and modify your program?

Check in with yourself and see what's working, what isn't, and what changes you'd like to make so your practice is more enjoyable and effective.

At first, you might want to review and modify on a weekly basis. It's likely you'll go through some trial and error. Rather than being discouraged when things don't go well, use that as information to alter your routine to make it even better.

QUESTION #11: How will you keep your practice fresh and inspiring?

The same activity will be different every day, if you stay alert, purposeful, and present with the fine details of what you are doing-rather than mindlessly going through the motions.

Become a life-long student of your practice. Read what others are doing. Experiment. If things are getting stale, mix it up. Practice in a new location, adjust your technique, or practice with someone else. Use variety to keep your mind fresh and awake.

Remember "why" your practice is important. What do you want to achieve? What are you afraid might happen if you let this go?

QUESTION #12: How will you remind yourself to practice?

Put your practice in your schedule. Post a note on your alarm, your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator, or the dashboard of your car.

Now, you're ready to go! If you've answered these 12 questions, you've set yourself up for success. Now, it's time to take action.

Remember, Daily Practice is THE PATH to achieve any personal growth goal. It's the way to engage in and live your dreams every day.

So, what will you grow in your life?

Enjoy your practice!

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The Top Six Ways to Stay Motivated

I receive many emails from people that basically ask the same question: How can I keep myself motivated long term? This seems to be quite a common dilemma for many people so I want to address it because it can be done! Here are my tips for staying motivated:

Get motivated every day.

Zig Ziglar was once confronted about being a "motivational speaker." The guy said to him, "You guys come and get people hyped up and then you leave and the motivation goes away. It doesn't last, and then you have to get motivated again." Zig reminded the gentleman that baths are the same way but we think it is a good idea to take a bath every day!

It is true that motivation doesn't last.

We have to renew it each and every day. That is okay. It doesn't make motivation a bad thing. We simply have to realize that if we want to stay motivated over the long term, it is something we will have to apply to ourselves each and every day.

Have a vision for your life.

The root word of motivation is "motive." The definition of motive is, 

"A reason to act." This is the cognitive or rational side of motivation. It is your vision. You have to have a vision that is big enough to motivate you. If you are making $50,000 a year, it isn't going to motivate you to set your goal at $52,000 a year. You just won't get motivated for that because the reward isn't enough. Maybe $70,000 a year would work for you. Set out a vision and a strategy for getting there. Have a plan and work the plan.

Fuel your passion.

Much of motivation is emotional. I don't know quite how it works but I do know THAT it works. Emotion is a powerful force in getting us going. Passion is an emotion, so fuel your passion. "Well, I like to work on logic," you may say. Great, now work on your passion. Set yourself on a course to have a consuming desire for your goal, whatever it is. Do whatever you can to feel the emotion and use it to your advantage!

Work hard enough to get results.

You can build on your motivation by getting results. The harder you work, the more results you will get and the more results you get, the more you will be motivated to get more. These things all build on one another. If you want to lose weight, then lose the first few pounds. When the belt moves to the next notch you will get fired up to get it to the notch beyond that!

Put good materials into your mind.

I can't say this enough - listen to downloads. I still listen to downloads regularly. 

Their successes motivate me to get my own successes! Read good books. Read books that teach you new ideas and skills. Read books that tell the stories of successful people. Buy them, read them, and get motivated! Buy great music and listen to it. I just did a spinning class at the club today. Whenever a good song came on I was actually able to get motivated to ride faster! It gets you going and motivates you!

Ride the momentum when it comes.

Sometimes you will just be clicking and sometimes you won't. That is okay. It is the cycle of life. When you aren't clicking, plug away. When you are clicking, pour it on because momentum will help you get larger gains in a shorter period of time with less energy. That is the momentum Equation! When you are feeling good about how your work is going, ride the momentum and get as much out of it as you can!

These are the top six ways to stay motivated:

Get motivated every day.

Have a vision for your life.

Fuel your passion.

Work hard enough to get results.

Put good materials into your mind.

Ride the momentum when it comes.

These are simple principles, that when you put them to work regularly, will change your life by keeping you motivated all the time! Get going!

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Becoming Rich in Your Own Way

If you really want to become rich, then begin by evaluating your work habits and work environment. That's how most millionaires made their first million. According to Dr. Srully Blotnick, a psychologist and consultant who spent 20 years studying how people became rich, most millionaires didn't make their money in real estate, the stock market, or waiting for their ship to come in.

They made theirs, instead, through their business or profession. They became so good at their job that they made quite a bit of money. Then, and only then, did they turn to real estate and stocks as sites to invest and grow their money. Even then, their basic business continued to produce the bulk of their gains; their investments usually produced only mediocre results by comparison.

There's a monumentally important lesson to be learned from the hundreds of millionaires that Dr. Blotnick studied for 20 years. The lesson is this: If you really want to become rich, invest in yourself first; invest in real estate, stocks, and other ventures later. Dr. Blotnick divided this into two stages:

· The first takes place when you're consumed by a business or profession that you enjoy so much that you would do it for nothing.

· After it pays you enough income, you enter the second stage. This is when you become a bona fide investor. You start thinking of and looking for opportunities to use your surplus income.

To set yourself and your career on track, evaluate yourself by answering these questions about:

liking your work:

· How much do I really like my job?

· Does my job bring out the best in me?

· Has it caused me to do more than I ever thought I could do? If you answered any of these questions in the negative, consider a job or career change.

determining if your work is right for you:

· How can I tell if I really like my work?

· How do I know if I'm doing my work right?

· How do I know if I'm doing the right kind of work?

The best way to determine that is to apply these test questions:

· What would I do for free?

· Am I enjoying my work so much that time seems to fly by?

· How would I like the work to be done if I were on the receiving end?

· What would I do if I didn't have to support myself, but did indeed want to work?

· What work would I do if my doctor told me that I had only five years more to live?

considering my financial rewards:

· Am I contended with my current income?

· Am I in position to influence a change in my income?

· What if the work I enjoy doing doesn't pay very well?

If you're satisfied with the first two, then I say, "Hang in there! You're on your way to becoming rich." People who became rich did so because they persisted. Only a personal involvement with what you enjoy doing will produce the kind of persistence that propels you out of bed in the mornings and makes you willing to work long and hard.

investing in yourself:

· Am I developing my skills, talents, and abilities?

· Have I made a plan that will help me to develop them?

· Am I constantly improving my relationship with others?

· Do I ask my co-workers for feedback about my performance?

Investing in yourself means developing both of these aspects: the technical knowledge you need in order to do your work effectively and the human relations skills you need in order to work effectively with others. Mr. Joseph Brooks, CEO at Lord & Taylor, once said, "If you love your work, and do it well, someone will spot that ... Let the quality of your work do it for you."

To become rich, do it your own way. Rely on your own talents, skills, and abilities. Invest them in a business or profession that you enjoy doing very much. Invest in your personal growth and development. Become the very best at what you do at your work even if it pays you little right now. If you really like what you are doing, eventually a fat salary will catch up with your reputation. The bottom line is persistence. Become an expert at relating well with others.

Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.

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Top 5 Reasons Why You're Not Living Your Dream

1. "I'm too old to make a change."

Maybe you're over 30 and settled in your career. You don't even want to think about making a move somewhere else. Besides, at this point in your life, you're supposed to be doing what you want, right?

For some reason we seem to think that we have to "act our age". But what does that mean? Where is there a definition of what it means to be a certain age?

The next time you think you're too old to make a change, think about Colonel Sanders and Wally Amos. Age is truly nothing more than a number.

2. "I need more money."

You might have dreams of owning your own business. You automatically think about all the money you'll need to do that. Just the thought of it overwhelms you and stops you in your tracks.

Using money as a reason not to change is just another excuse. Sure, it does take money to start a business. But who says we have to have all the money at once? Sometimes just the process of planning out our dreams makes what seems impossible, possible.

When you start to visualize your dreams, new opportunities open up for you. You may even find options that don't require that much money.

3. "I'm afraid to make a change."

You may have made a career move in the past and things didn't turn out like you expected. Maybe your boss didn't treat you well or you weren't challenged enough. Now you might be afraid to make the same mistake again.

Fear can take over and paralyze us. The funny thing is that most of the things we fear generally do not become a reality. When we come up with reasons why we can't make a move, we are just avoiding true happiness.

Basing your future on events that happened in the past is a sure way of stopping yourself from growing. It's best to learn from the past so that you can move forward.

4. "I don't have time to try to live my dream."

You may be so focused on your daily duties that you don't stop to think about your dreams. They might be buried deep within.

Some of us have spent so much time trying to make a living that we really don't have a life. We haven't taken the time to learn what we are passionate about.

Listen to those inner voices. Acknowledge the ideas that keep popping into your head. Make note of what you do in your spare time. Ask yourself if you would do these things even if you weren't getting paid. Or, ask if you would do them as a hobby even if you won the lottery.

5. "I don't think anyone will approve of my dream."

You've been thinking about making a change in your career. But what will people think of you? Will they believe that you can be successful? Will they be waiting for you to fail?

We often sabotage ourselves by worrying about what other people think of us. A family member, co-worker, or friend passes judgment on our dreams. All of a sudden, that's enough to stop us from moving forward.

You have the right to do what makes you happy. As long as you are not hurting anyone, including yourself, go for it. You might upset some people in the process. But, ultimately, it is your life.

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7 Tiny Things You Can Do To Feel Confident In Any Situation

Feeling a little jittery about an upcoming appointment or interview? Nerves can get the better of even the best among us, and therefore having a simple and effective strategy to find your way around them can be very helpful. Here are 7 simple and tiny things you can do to feel more confident in a situation.

Take a Moment before Stepping In

Before stepping into a meeting, interview or even a social gathering, right at the door take a brief pause to collect yourself and your thoughts, reaffirm your poise and gracefully move forth into the experience before you. Realigning yourself helps make sure you are more integrated and focused to meet whatever it is that lies ahead of you, no matter how expected or unexpected.

Establish Eye Contact

Body language doesn't just give hints to the confidence levels of a person, but can actually be used to reaffirm these as well. Establishing eye contact is a pivotal aspect of being self-assured and confident. Make sure to meet everyone with a bright, confident and composed look, and to maintain the eye contact through your engagement.

Smile with Your Heart

A wonderful and beaming smile can help you find your way into the heart and favors of practically anyone you meet- whether in a work situation or otherwise. But not any smile will do; only a genuine smile helps you appear calm, confident and appealing. So smile with your heart, and smile wide.

Breathe Deeply

Shallow breath usually accompanies the most panicky and challenging situations. Therefore if you are not breathing right- that is deep into your torso- then your body is bound to stay a little on edge, if not in panic. To appear more confident, relax your body and consequently your body by breathing properly.

Uncross Your Arms

Crossed arms are a clear defensive stance; but they don't just put off the other person, they also hold you back from the situation or challenge at hand. Uncross your arms and really open up to your experience and you will not only look more confident, but feel more confident as well.

Appreciate Your Self

A lot of our doubts anchor in our own self- criticism, slowly eroding away our self-esteem, confidence and belief. To perk your confidence levels up, take some time to appreciate your self- not just for the successes and results you may have enjoyed, but also for the efforts and passion you pour into your every day.

Don't Lose Perspective

It is easy to get carried away by the momentum of a moment, and to forget the bigger picture. Just how much someone else's opinion matters in the long run, or just how crucial a meeting is to the bigger picture can go a long way to making you feel more relaxed and therefore focused. Remember no matter how big it might seem today, there is always greater to accomplish and more to enjoy.

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Motivation - How to Get Motivated and Stay That Way

Getting excited about something new is human nature. Starting a new job. Opening up a new business. A new relationship. Your first day of working out. Starting meal prep. Anything new is exciting until it's not new anymore. Once you learn all the nuances of your new job, it's not exciting anymore. There's nothing fun about losing money for a few months in your new business, in fact, it's discouraging. Discovering all of your significant other's annoying quirks may make you reconsider building the relationship. Getting up at 5:00 am to go to the gym after you've been up late taking care of your sick child is difficult. Pushing through and maintaining enthusiasm about whatever it is will keep you on track.

You've made the first step. You got started. Some don't even make it that far because of fear. Congratulate yourself for making it over that hurdle. Now you find that you aren't as excited as you were in the beginning. You aren't as productive. You don't greet your customers with as much bravado as before. How do you keep up that excitement of the "new"?

Look around. Take an inventory of your life. Losing steam is the first step toward giving up. If you give up you will never realize your goals. Remember all the people cheering you on. Remember everyone who invested in you. Be it time, money, or simply encouragement. Can you handle disappointing them all if you chose not to succeed? Success is a choice we make everyday. It doesn't just happen. We choose it.

It's easy to stay excited when things are going well. The key to success is to stay excited when things are difficult. Things happen. There will be bad days at work. You will miss deadlines. Promotions will pass you by. You will have difficulties with customers. You will argue with your spouse. You will miss days at the gym. You will feel the guilt of cheating your diet. You will get rejected and face an obstacle or even failure. Know that failures are temporary only when you keep moving and continue to take action.

Maintaining enthusiasm about your project is the key to making your dreams come true. Take action everyday as if it is your first day. Keep visual reminders of what you are working toward. Keep a daily routine that promotes positive thoughts. Doing these things will allow you to stay excited about everything even when things get tough.

Be enthusiastic everyday. Don't let obstacles discourage you. Just continue. Keep visual reminders of what the results of your actions can yield to stay excited. Choose to excitement and you will stay excited.

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7 Counter-Intuitive Life Lessons That You Need to Know

The process of maturity allows us to look life as it really is.

The truth and nothing but.

Through that process, we learn that common sense really isn’t so common. We learn that no, you probably won’t be the greatest basketball/football/baseball player ever. We even learn that our parents are humans and they make mistakes just like us.

7 Counter-Intuitive Life Lessons That You Need to Know

As they say the truth sets you free. Here are 7 counter-intuitive life lessons that you need to know.


1. Fame. Money. Looks. Has nothing to do with confidence.

If it did we’d all be all be in trouble. Confidence isn’t a privilege and it’s never guaranteed. Winning the lottery and becoming a millionaire the next day isn’t going to make you any more confident than you are now.

Some might say I’m wrong, that winning the lottery will indeed make them more confident. Okay. What about when you lose all the money?

Tying your confidence levels to the a dollar amount, looks that can fade, or likes on social media isn’t healthy. Those are wells that can run empty at any time. True confidence is based internally, on things nobody can take from you.


2. It’s not worth trying to get people who don’t like you to like you.

It’s too much time and effort that might not even lead to any payoff.

Not to mention the mental and emotional stress and chasing somebody who doesn’t like you. With the time and energy you spend on trying to get people who don’t like you to like you, you can get at least 3 other people to like you.

Be positive, be kind, and leave it at that.


3. It’s better to be really good at two things than the best at one thing.

Neil Degrasse Tyson, for example. Fluent in the field of advanced astrophysics, but not quite at the top. Yet he has had considerable success in spite of it. All due to the fact that he has the ability to break down such a complicated topic and make it entertaining to the average person.

Derek Halpern of Social Triggers. Great marketer and a fantastic public speaker. His main discipline was in digital marketing, but he branched off into public speaking. This allowed him to grow his brand into the multi-million dollar business it is today.


This is because once you get to a certain level, your growth starts to level out. It becomes harder and harder to get to that next level. So differentiate yourself. Develop another skill.


4. The less you need something, the more it’ll present itself to you.

Startups with strong sales without any venture capital will have venture capitalists throwing money at them.

The prospect with recruiters hounding them for an interview will only continue to see that number of recruiters grow. When you don’t need your chap-stick, you see it all over the place. When you need it, however, it’s nowhere to be found.

People who need rarely get what they want.

5. It’s better to be selfish now so you can be selfless later.

“…FIRST TAKE THE PLANK OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO REMOVE THE SPECK FROM YOUR BROTHER’S EYE.” – MATTHEW 7:5

On air-planes they instruct parents, in case of an emergency, to first put on oxygen masks on themselves before attending to their children.

This is for the children’s benefit.

If you can’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of others?

There’s only so much you can do as a broke college student. You might be able to go to South America and help build a house or a school for underprivileged children, but it’s far more effective for you to selfish first.

Once you’ve established your reputation and your wealth, you can do far more for those underprivileged children than you ever could have had you neglected your “selfish” goals.


6. The day you accept the fact everything will end is the day you stop taking everything for granted.

Stoics such as Marcus Aurelius pondered their own mortality frequently. They were attuned to the limited amount of the time they and everybody and everything else had on this earth. This evolved into a deep appreciation for the each breathe gifted to them.

Worrying or complaining about circumstances fades into the backdrop of inevitable mortality. So smile as you tackle on your challenges.


7. Help people that can’t help you today.

Guy Kawasaki used to give stories to journalists coming from small time newspapers and magazines when he was with Apple. He could’ve easily gone to the big dogs such as The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal.

Instead he built those relationships up so when those journalists did work at The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal, he had an inside contact.

Those contacts came in handy when Apple wasn’t doing so well, and journalists weren’t waiting hand and foot for a story.

Not everybody you help will be kind enough to repay the favor. So do it because you’re a good person and don’t expect much out of it. Only then will you be pleasantly surprised.


Conclusion

Some of these truths present themselves to us too late in life and we could’ve avoided a mistake or two had we been aware of them. I made the mistake many years ago of basing my confidence on silly things such as clothes and looks.

Maybe you can relate.

Maybe you can also relate how you’re in a much better spot now now that you’ve learned to base your confidence on what can’t be taken away from you.

There are going to be many more truths that’ll reveal themselves to you later on in life.

To recap here are 7 of those:
Fame. Money. Looks. Has nothing to do with confidence.
It’s not worth trying to get people who don’t like you to like you
It’s better to be really good at two things than the best at one thing
The less you need something, the more it’ll present itself to you
It’s better to be selfish now so you can be selfless later
The day you accept the fact everything will end is the day you stop taking everything for granted
Help people that can’t help you today

Oh, and one more. Santa Claus isn’t real.
What are some counter-intuitive life lesson you’ve learned? I would love to hear from you.

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How To Think Positive Thoughts - 5 Steps

Your thoughts do control your life.

You know that, right?

All the experts tell us and frankly, if you take a look at the results happening in your life, you will realize that you are getting exactly what you expect. You may think that life is happening to you but what if you are creating the life you don't want by the thoughts you allow to remain in your head?

Would it not be best to get a handle on this and start putting positive thinking to the test?

Here are 5 steps to thinking more positive thoughts..

First and foremost, you need to get aware of the fact that you are in control of your thinking. As a coach, I am surprised by the fact that a whole lot of people think that they have no control over their thoughts. They tend to think that their thoughts happen to them. Right now, choose to become aware of the fact that you have control over your thinking.

Now you are aware that you have full control of your thoughts, it is time to take full responsibility for where you are right now. You may not like what you see at the moment but as you take responsibility for everything, you recognize the power you have to turn your thoughts around. No longer can you allow yourself to keep thinking that you have no control because it is no longer your truth. The first second or so of a negative thought are sometimes out of control but when you keep thinking that thought at 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds or more, then you are deliberately relinquishing your control. Stop that.

It is time to get pretty clear on what you really do want to create. Take some time to write it down and simplify it into mini-thoughts that you can inject into your brain from time to time through the day. You want something to replace your current thought patterns. Take the time to do this.

Watch what you are listening to and exposing yourself to each day. Check your thoughts and feelings after you listen to the news, watch some TV programs, read certain books and decide whether they lift you up or pull you down. Get disciplined about what you allow into your head.

Realise that changing habits can be tough so determine that you will never give up. Getting your brain to work the way you want it to is a matter of lots of practice and brainwashing yourself into thinking only things that you choose to think.

OK, time to get to work. Start implementing these steps now and see the difference it makes to your life.

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How to Conquer 3 Common Fears

We were not born with fears. If we were, we would have never learned to walk, ride a bike, or even play, for fear of getting hurt. Children are fearless. They can fall off their bike and break their arm and then get right back on the bike, broken arm and all.

How do they do it? They have an endless amount of motivation. When they want something they go after it. They succeed more often than adults because they keep trying no matter how many times they fail. Below are three tips to catching the motivation bug for three very common fears.

Fear of Public Speaking: Many children in our school system are given topics, told to research their topics, and then give a speech in front of the entire class. These children are stripped of their creativity and their imagination and forced to give an oral presentation of a topic they are usually too young to understand or care anything about. Some children fly through these types of assignments while others fail miserably.

When we become adults we remember failing miserably as one of our worst childhood experiences. The older we grow, the worse the memory becomes, and the more we exploit it. The memory is embedded within our mind, thus, it gives us a fear.

To conquer your fear of public speaking, first, realize where the fear came from. Realize that we were all children once and we all made mistakes. Tell yourself that you will not fail miserably and concentrate heavily upon the benefits you will receive if you commit yourself to a public speaking engagement. Once you realize these benefits, your motivation will slowly begin to kick in.

Write your benefits on paper and read them frequently to increase your motivation. Don't commit to a public speaking engagement for which you have no interest. Make sure it is something you are passionate about so your benefits will be important to you. Passion always makes motivation more powerful. Visualize yourself speaking in public and succeeding.

Fear of Failure: Many children are punished or criticized for not being perfect. As they grow older, it becomes easier to not attempt anything for which they might be punished or criticized for. When they become adults, it becomes even easier to not attempt anything new.

The problem with a fear of failure is that we spend our lives in the "if only" mode. "If only" I'd finished my bachelors degree, "If only" I had a better job, "If only" I had more money, "If only, If only, If only"

Our economy is currently not the greatest. Many people are unemployed, but just as many people are over employed. Many of those who are over employed are completing the work of two people, working extra hours, and working for jerks.

Because of their fear of failure, they continue to put up with their depressing work environment. They continue to be miserable and continue to say "If only."

To conquer your fear of failure, take action. Write, on paper, one small easily attainable goal. Then, write all the steps you will take to achieve that goal. As you accomplish these steps, cross them off. Once you have acquired your goal, cross it off. Repeat this process and each time you write a new goal, make your goal a little bit bigger and a little bit more difficult.

When you begin this process, find goals to accomplish which are important to you. Remember, passion gives motivation power. The more passionate you are about your goal, the more important it becomes to you. The more important it becomes to you, the more motivation you will have to achieve it.

Fear of Success: Many adults learned to fear success during their school years and in many sports. They were held back by ignorant adults to allow other children to catch up to them. Many schools believe in the team method, where several of the children will work on a project and receive the same grade. Children who want to excel cannot because they are held back while waiting for their classmates. Many sports have this same concept.

As these children become adults they continue to wait on everyone else to catch up with them. Unfortunately, they do not realize that they are the ones doing nothing. They are the ones sitting in their comfort zone afraid to move for fear of not being part of the crowd.

To conquer your fear of success, realize that it is okay to be different. Remember that you were taught this fear; you were not born with it. When you become the successful person you want to become you will find that not only do you have your same circle of friends, but you will also have many more.

Once you conquer your fears, you will realize how much they have held you back. Always remember that you were not born with your fears; you were taught your fears. Getting rid of your fears frees you to do whatever you want to do. It is like taking a weight off your shoulders. When the weight is gone, you will have an increased amount of motivation, like when you were a child.

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