Internal Motivation VS External Motivation - The "Secret" To Monumental Success

The biggest problem for most people is they are externally motivated.

This means they focus on "things" external to them, such as cars, houses, clothes, technology (computers/phones), games etc. Whilst everyone is guilty of this to a certain degree, the best people are internally motivated.

Internal motivation sounds new-age woo-woo so I'll explain what it is.

Say you have a burning desire to fly. Or maybe you want to go to the moon and see what it's like to walk in zero gravity. Perhaps you're an artist. You could be a musician. Everyone has an underlying idea / ideal which makes their soul burn with passion. This is internal motivation.

In almost every case of monumental success (epoch defining), we find one core ideal lying at the heart of the individual's desire to risk their entire life upon a series of events that lead up to the eventual achievement of their goal. Some of the more pertinent would be Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Hannibal and even Hitler.

To take these examples, we can actually examine them as we would other people...

Alexander wanted to see what lay beyond the "outer ocean". Ancient Greeks believed the world was essentially a donut with a huge "outer ocean" surrounding the land (they obviously had not discovered the Americas or the poles at this point). His conquests were simply his way of trying to get to this ocean and see what lay beyond.

Caesar wanted to be like Alexander. A vain and ambitious man, we already know that he was as shrewd political operator. Born into a demi noble (patrician) family 50+ years before Jesus, many contemporaries described him as arrogant. It wasn't until he was 32, however, that Caesar encountered a statue of Alexander the Great when he was service as Quaestor in Spain. It is reported (by Plutarch) that Caesar broke down and wept - when confronted, he replied "I have not just cause to weep, when I consider that Alexander at my age had conquered so many nations, and I have all this time done nothing that is memorable?". Shortly afterwards, he returned to Rome to pursue greater political aspirations.

Hannibal invaded Italy in an attempt to subdue the fledgling Roman city state. In a time just after Alexander the Great, and around 150/200 years before Julius Caesar, Hannibal's "Second Punic War" was a huge upset in the region. Despite being best known for taking an army - with elephants - over the Alps, Hannibal's military victories far outshine this stunning feat. However, it would not have been possible had it not been for his father - Hamilcar Barca - who forced Hannibal to swear that he would destroy Rome when he was just 6 years old. Obviously, the young Hannibal took his oath to heart.

Adolf Hitler is interesting. Firstly, the raving madman many people seem him to be is a false post-war propaganda play. When you look at the man, you see someone fraught with internal conflict and a longing for acceptance in a world where he felt he was "special". What's vital about Hitler is the way in which his political ascent was triggered by his time on the Western Front. Upon hearing of the armistice in 1918, he was fraught with despair. Whilst this "trigger" was interesting, what actually lay at the root of his experience was an opera called Rienzi. The original manuscript has been lost (Hitler owned it and it was lost after the war)... but from what we know, it's Wagner's story about how a lowly Roman Plebian rose through the ranks of a corrupt government to lift his populace out of servitude.

The point of all this is that at the core of ALL massive success lies an underlying "trigger". This trigger is typically the ignition for something much deeper. This deeper ideal is what you really want but have either been told - or in many cases have identified yourself - as being something you can "never do". In other words, the "trigger" gives you a justification to actually pursue your true intentions.

The first step to becoming majorly successful is to first understand what you REALLY want out of life. As mentioned, if you want to "fly", there are many "ways" through which this can be achieved... becoming a pilot being one.

As most people never spend 2 minutes thinking about this type of thing, they never give themselves permission to consider it at all. This is why they live lives of silent desperation... consuming until they die.

Indeed, our modern world - devoid of heroes like they had in Ancient Greece - is now focused squarely on making as many people as high-powered consumers as possible. Everything will be fine just as long as you're a good tax & debt slave.

If you want to achieve monumental success, you WILL have to do "the work". Of that, there is no doubt.

However, if you want to be one of the "few" who truly make it, you need to consider what you really want. This is not something logical... you can't really "say" what it is. It's just a feeling you have. Again, everyone has one - the question is whether you have the courage to bring it to reality.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Internal-Motivation-VS-External-Motivation---The-Secret-To-Monumental-Success&id=9913790

Persistence Is Taking Rest and Taking the Plunge All Over Again

It has been a year hiatus and here I am again, have newfound courage and kindness to myself to endure toward a new journey to a writing, solitary world. Yes, coaxing myself to get busy again and share the wisdom gained from "adulting", and making time believing--- in the goodness of the universe to those who have the courage to persist, despite limitations and all. This, I guess, can make a lot of difference to this mundane existence.

When I stopped writing articles, I had this notion that I have been repeating myself. It seemed that I have reached the peak of my creativity and had to go slow, down to the valley, where crest of inactivity buried the passion to the center of the earth--and, hoping that one day, such would be reborn, like a phoenix from ashes. So, here I am--vibrant and vigor-laden, ready to gamble again, against the discriminating eyes of the editors, and whims of those who are fond of reading articles with sense.

From the different situations I have been in to the new relationships sought and cherished to the lessons learned from relating to the love and hatred formed along the way to the endless attempts to become a better version of myself to the long and winding road to contenment..whew!

Such a journey made me more loving to myself, more understanding of other persons around, kinder to those who needed the most kindness and all.

Still, the incompetence of becoming like "human king,"hinders sanity to become saner, and the humanity to become more humane.

Each one deserves the chance to fully develop into a magnificent creature of the ONE who chose all of us co-existing and learning along the way toward maturity and all.

When one reaches the belief that everyone is valuable, liken to a kitten to its cat and a child to his mother, only then could our existence be meaningful and uplifting. Nobody deserves to experience pain from immaturity of some, cruelty of few, and insanity of one.

All we need is love. Just like my passion to writing, has been invigorated and all when kindred soul coaxed me to take up my parked pen again, and let the words find their own glory, when they have fallen to the right places-- worthy to be heard and taken as wisdom to everyday living, loving and learning journeys.

So, take a rest if you may, but please don't stop pressing on after... with your passion, whatever it is.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Persistence-Is-Taking-Rest-and-Taking-the-Plunge-All-Over-Again&id=10046615

Does Success Require Humility?

Are all successful people humble? Are all humble people successful? Ever even thought about this idea?

Before I share with you what I think are the important points regarding this concept;

Humility (Dictionary) - a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness. Or - modesty, weakness, humbleness or Unpretentiousness.

Agree with any or all of these?

I don't always agree with the general dictionary definitions of words for a variety of reasons but let's just say that these regarding humility tend to imply weakness and I have never viewed humility as a weakness but a strength. How about you?

Since this definition and your definition are a foundation for what follows we don't have to be on the same page, but we do need to be open and receptive for a different viewpoint.

For me, humility is a sign of strength simply because it takes courage to demonstrate it in times of outside pressure from others, inside pressure for the need to fit in and belong and social pressure to not show weakness.

Keep in mind I am not referring to humility here as backing down, giving in, or any other form of consolation or concession when what you are standing for is right, noble or grounded in truth and or principle. I am not saying we should all give in no matter the circumstances. What I am suggesting is that the ability to stand strong without letting your ego, arrogance, supposed intelligence take over for whatever reason that demonstrates that we have the ability to accept failure, adversity or trials with patience, wisdom, and common sense. We have the ability to know when to fight back and when to let go of the need to stand strong.

OK, now that I hope I have that out of the way back to the title.

Is humility a part of or necessary for real success? Noticed I added the word "real" to the question.

Success - (Dictionary) the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. O.K. how about the self-help industry's definition - it's the journey, not the destination. O.K. here's mine -

The direction (outcomes) in life you want to achieve and as the journey progresses you are accomplishing the desired and established benchmarks along the way.

Yes, there is more to success than my above definition but for the sake of brevity, I kept it short.

So, given the two definitions what is your answer to the above questions - Are all successful people humble? Are all humble people successful?

Let's take the first one first.

During my global speaking career, I have known hundreds of successful people in a variety of industries and positions who were all extremely successful when it came to finance, reputation, power, and influence but lacked any degree of humility for any number of reasons.

And yes, I have also met many who had all of the above outcomes and traits and yes also had humility as a major portion of their personality and style.

So, from personal experience, the answer to the first question is - no.

What about the second question.

If I used the same criteria as above I get the same outcome. Some humble people are successful while some are not.

"So, Tim, what's the point of this article. It would appear that humility is not a trait that needs to be considered to achieve success."

Yes, you are right if you only consider the above traits I mentioned. But, what if we added; happiness, inner peace, contentment, a lifelong legacy and a few others - would the outcomes change dramatically.

Just because you have fame, power, influence and wealth can't and should not (in my opinion) be the only factors when considering and defining success.

What about ethics and integrity? What about charity and generosity? What about spiritual values?

Want proof - hundreds of very successful people over the years according to the first set of criteria have - committed suicide, ended up in prison, spent years in mental institutions and ended their lives in pain, sadness, loss, and mockery.

Were they a success - sure. Was it worth it - who knows, or only time will tell.

Let me end this diatribe with a simple idea - as your life progresses would you rather have it end with fun, happy and wonderful memories or ones that caused you stress, pain, uncertainty and a loss of connection to those you loved or knew?

I'm not suggesting by any means that it isn't possible to have all of the positives. So, decide - what do you want your path to be like - filled with all of the positives and negatives or just all of the positives?

https://ezinearticles.com/?Does-Success-Require-Humility?&id=9999884

Easy to Follow Tips to Deal With Alcohol Cravings

Taking the decision to quit drinking requires a lot of courage. Once decided, it takes a strong resolve to navigate through cravings and maintain sobriety. Sometimes, even after taking a long-term treatment, people become vulnerable when they find themselves in circumstances where it is hard to resist alcohol.

However, with a little foresight and planning, one can manage to steer clear of the cravings and continue the sober journey. Here are some tips which can help keep cravings in control:

• Throwing out bottles of alcohol from home - During cravings, it is natural for a person to reach out for alcohol available around. If stored at home, it will be like an open invitation to drink. One must discard all the bottles of alcohol from home and bring in nonalcoholic beverages.
• Staying away from risky situations - It is important to steer clear of risky situations, like one should avoid hanging out with the friends who consume alcohol. Even visiting bars and pubs should also be avoided for socializing. Many places in the United States have bars that do not serve alcohol and one should visit these places to hang out.
• Calling up friend - Whenever the cravings are unbearable, it is prudent to reach for a friend who supports one's sobriety goals. This way, one will have someone who provides support at a critical time. It is important that this friend doesn't drink and perhaps is someone who has been through similar circumstances.
• Eating something sweet yet healthy - The reason people start putting on weight while drinking is because alcohol has a lot of sugar. When people quit alcohol, they also grapple with sugar cravings. It can be handled by keeping handy something sweet but healthy. The options could be fruits of choice, dark chocolate, energy bars, energy drinks, frozen yogurt, etc.
• Feeling relaxed - During stressful situations, people are often tempted to reach for a glass of alcohol to calm their nerves. It is thus important to stay calm and collected, which can be achieved by practicing yoga, meditation, tai-chi, qigong, and mindfulness. One can also learn some art therapy, read self-help books and listen to soothing music.
• Joining support groups - It is important to have positive influences in life. This can be achieved by joining online and offline support groups that offer alcohol addiction support. One must be regular at the meetings as these groups offer a platform for communicating effectively with the group members, give vent to pent-up feelings and overcome the negativity.
• Eating nutritious diet - It is important to eat balanced and fortified meals to stay physically and mentally strong in order to avoid a relapse. One must drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and include fresh fruits and vegetables in diet. Complex and whole carbs available in wholegrain bread and pasta are better options than white flour or rice. Consuming healthy fats readily available in avocados, fish and nuts is also a healthy practice.
• Exercising - Physical activity is known to regulate hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Besides, it helps one stay focused. Brisk walk, running, swimming, yoga, workout, etc. are really beneficial.

Road to recovery

Sometimes, despite best intentions, self-help techniques fail. In such cases, it is important to enroll for alcohol detox treatment under trained professionals who can help one achieve sobriety.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Easy-to-Follow-Tips-to-Deal-With-Alcohol-Cravings&id=9957368

Why The Obstacle Before You Is Never Bigger Than Your Power To Overcome It

Lean In To Your Difficulties

The reason you fear obstacles is that you doubt your ability to overcome them. Obstacles are seldom the problem, it is our lack of power to conquer them that gets in the way. For example, have you faced a difficult situation in the past and worried you would not make it through? Recall the circumstances and how you felt as best you can. Now fast forward months from when it occurred and call to mind the same situation from a renewed perspective. Can you see how insignificant it seems from your current outlook? That is, we feel incapable of overcoming challenges instead of believing we will be OK. Perhaps it's the element of surprise or the fear we are powerless to face the problem that scares us most.

It is what author and psychotherapist David Richo refers to in The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them when he says: "We worry because we do not trust ourselves to handle what happens to us. We worry because we do not trust that the way the chips fall will work out for the best. We worry because we have not yet said yes." Therein lies the issue: acknowledging the obstacle instead of wanting it to disappear. I'm not talking about unexpected events such as a speeding ticket or your romantic interest not returning a text message. Whilst I acknowledge this may cause distress for some people, I'm talking about larger issues that call on our deepest inner strength. Saying yes to what transpires means leaning in to your difficulties even though it may look untenable on the face of it. However, if approached with an open mind, we will overcome it and gain valuable insights.

No Other Choice Than To Be Courageous

Your inherent power is one of resiliency, determination and courage. Do you believe this power is available to you? Sometimes, we won't know the depths of our power until we are tested. I have faced many challenges throughout my life including the death of a parent and coming to terms with a life-threatening illness. I didn't realise I had the power to overcome those experiences until I had to. In the years that followed, I not only developed a greater strength of will, but the experiences softened me and I developed a humility towards life. I came to appreciate this entity called life is much greater than me. I came to look upon it with reverence and acknowledge that whilst I'm a small cog in the process called life, it functions perfectly irrespective of my thoughts.

Not everyone shares my outlook and that's fine. I wouldn't want to impress my views upon others because they are uniquely mine. I've met many people over the years who endured similar experiences and each person formed their own meaning of the events. Can you reflect on events in your own life that changed your outlook? Was the change for the better or were you angry with others, perhaps with life? It's hard to know how we will react in difficult moments. Sometimes there's no other choice than to face our hardships and step into battle with fierce determination and courage. For instance, if your loved one wants a divorce, you can wallow in self-pity and claim not to have seen the writing on the wall. You might experience sadness for months or brave through it as this is happening to you and see where it leads, not because you want to but because there is no other choice; sometimes there is no other choice than to be courageous.

Therein lies the key message of this article: when there's no other choice than to be strong, life calls us to exert our greatest strength because what we're experiencing may be bigger than we realise. When we don't have a choice other than to step into the fire, what awaits us on the other side is a journey of self-discovery, knowing we are more resilient and courageous than we imagined. It is what author Alex Pattakos refers to in Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work where he writes: "Courage is not the absence of fear but the awareness there is something more important." I'm reminded of those who lose their homes in a fire or their life savings to scrupulous insurance companies who undermine their trust or those whose family members betray them. These things happen to good people everyday and many of them have no other choice than to face their challenges. By leaning in to them, we develop the capacity to yield to the forces that oppose us. We learn the obstacle is never bigger than our power to overcome it. It is our willingness to move towards it with faith and determination, trusting the experience itself, which will activate our inherent power.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Why-The-Obstacle-Before-You-Is-Never-Bigger-Than-Your-Power-To-Overcome-It&id=10003049

6 Ways Motivation Can Make You Invincible

Having a positive attitude and great spirits serve as a great weapon to catapult the weak and immature rivals and enemies. The more you show them your motivational grace, the more uncomfortable they feel and keep their distance. This article shows several ways motivation can make you invincible.

Here are those 6 ways:

1) Courage: Yes, motivation uplifts your spirits and boosts your courage. The way you talk with your rivals and enemies makes you seem invincible. It frightens them out of their guts and they stay away.

2) Power: Having motivational spirits gives you power. You are able to be in command and be a leader at the top, guiding and making everyone follow you. In that sense too, having power is in other words being invincible.

3) Not saying yes easily: Lots of requests for favors will come to you because you are the one on the top with power along with motivational spirits but you will have to reject majority of them. In this case, not saying yes easily makes you invincible.

4) Being influential: A signature from you for any great purpose means so much because you are so influential as a result of your motivational sense. You can easily reject them if you think they are not good enough while you can also consent to them. Everything is in your hands and people are at your mercy which makes you invincible.

5) Happiness: Having motivation allows you to stay happy and in a good mood, enjoying the mojo of life. In this way too you stand out from others, who are mostly seeking happiness but are not getting enough of it. They want to know your secrets. Either you share with them or not. It's your choice and that makes you invincible as well.

6) Good work/life balance: Because of your high motivation, you are able to keep your cool and get along harmoniously with people at work and also keep your family members satisfied. You create a territory which no one is able to intrude and you protect everyone under your care. This is a sign of being invincible as well.

These are 6 great ways motivation makes you invincible. Having power, courage, saying no, being influential and happy with good work/life balance all enable you to stay on the top while you are in great demand for people from all nook and corners. Either you listen to their woes or not. Either you do something for them or not. They are eager to be nice to you and behave modestly while the choice is yours. This way you become a mighty invincible person who cannot be conquered but will conquer all.

https://ezinearticles.com/?6-Ways-Motivation-Can-Make-You-Invincible&id=9839476

Expectations Reality

William Shakespeare said "Expectation is the root of all heartaches"

In life, things don't always go as planned. We lay our scenarios in our heads, of everything going perfectly, and looking great, without a hitch or flaw. But let's be honest things almost never go down the way we think. We humans make our own fantasy world and think according to that, but reality is much different. I am not saying having expectations is wrong, we all do expect something from someone. A father does from his child, we from our friends and family and the list is never ending. But the thing is, sometimes we expect a lot from other people. We expect more from them because we would be willing to do that much from them.

Many of us have been in a situation where we felt helpless just because someone terminated our feelings. But this is how the life goes on. The only expectations we should have is from ourselves. We should keep our expectations high on achievements and low on people. There is no reason to feel disappointed, just let the things happen. we should have our goals high. It's better to be surprised than to be disappointed.

Successful people are successful because they are goal oriented. They don't expect anything from others but only from them. So we should have our dreams high and expectations even higher for ourselves. Because we are the writer of our own story, no one else will sail the boat of our lives. So don't expect more from the world. Be confident. Have the courage to face the world, be patient.

Thus I would like to conclude by quoting these lines from the Bhagwad Gita "Far better to live your own path imperfectly than to live another's perfectly."

"BEING JUDGED"

Have you ever thought that you are being judged? Don't worry. There will always be one person sitting somewhere in the world finding faults in you right now. No matter how you walk, dress, talk, no matter what you do, no matter what you don't do, they are going to judge you.

We are surrounded by a huge number of people. They include our family, friends, and people we haven't heard names of. Except a few of them everyone else is judging you.

If you drink, smoke- they'll judge you.

If you are a girl and roam with your guy friends they'll judge you.

If you don't talk too much, they'll say you are snobbish.

If you start any conversation, they'll say that you are way easy.

If you decide to please yourself first, they'll judge you by saying that you are selfish.

If you don't go out for a round of beers, they'll say you are boring.

Thousand other examples would suffice this argument, but it's pointless. Negativity will always haunt you. It will want to tear you apart and strive to leave a tinge of sadness in your soul that can bring you down. And the only thing that can heal you are the positive vibes that we need to inculcate in ourselves. You know what is snobbish, selfish, easy, boring here... 'THEM'.

You will anyway be judged for everything you do, whether it's wrong or right. Just do what you feel is good until and unless it doesn't hurt anyone. Do what makes you happy, do what your heart wants you to do. Find a way that makes you stand apart and ignore the crowd.

In the end, it is the warm smile on your face after facing all the cruelness that will make people gaze in awe and make their mouth shut.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Expectations-Reality&id=9870094

How Teens Can Overcome Low Self-Esteem

What do you do if your son comes to you one morning and announces that he doesn't want to go to school? You then ask "Why not?" He retorts with "Because no one likes me; they might make fun of me". This is where you can begin teaching your teen about how to overcome low self-esteem.

What if he made a new friend the very next day, someone who liked him a lot and wanted to play the same games as he did? What if he became your son's very best friend? If he doesn't go to school, he misses the opportunity of meeting that new friend. Point out the positive side, what good things can happen.

Find some children's books about kids overcoming problems and finding the good things in life, and read them with your children. Or make up your own stories about kids facing their fears and coming out as winners. You may have to do a lot of storytelling before they're feeling braver, but it will happen. Relate some stories of your own courage and perseverance in school, to show your child it is possible to overcome fears and live happily. Teach them early on to consider the positive side to problems rather than the negative; that changing your attitude changes your life.

If you start the self-esteem boosting regimen early enough in their life, you can save yourself a lot of irritation later on. As children grow older, you have to deal more and more with adolescent emotions. By the time they hit their teen years, it's important to have that self-esteem firmly in place, if you can.

When your children hit the mid teens, they're seeing everything in black and white. If one of their friends inadvertently hurts their feelings, they could see that as meaning that no one likes them. Keep in mind that teen emotions are more intense and extreme than in early childhood. Your teens see themselves in a completely different way than your young children do.

Teens are undergoing cognitive and emotional development, and this can lead to them feeling depressed and moody. You'll find they have trouble developing a general idea based on a specific idea or experience. As children become teens, the biggest issue is developing their own personal independence. They are trying to master skills they need day-to-day and finding some control over their environment. They're accepting the fact that they're growing up and deciding if they feel safe in their little world.

They're searching for their own identities. In the process, they can sometimes go to extremes, going deliberately against your wishes and even your beliefs. Because of the changes taking place in their bodies and their minds, it can produce some depression and moodiness. This should not be confused with clinical depression. Keep in mind that teens express their emotions very differently than younger children. It may even seem to be a little overly dramatic in some cases.

As they strive towards self-understanding, they may see themselves as completely helpless, without talents and skills, hopeless cases; but as your teens learn to increase their own competence and self-understanding, the histrionics will diminish.

The best ways to handle the dramatics is to remain calm and continue to boost your teens' self-esteem. Show them that they do indeed have talents and skills; everyone does. At that age, they just haven't had a chance to discover them yet, but they will. As they show an interest in one subject after another, simply encourage them in each one. You'll never know when one will turn out to be the driving force in their life and become the dream for their future.

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-Teens-Can-Overcome-Low-Self-Esteem&id=9419539

Finding Contentment in a Chaotic, Confused Life

In a season of reflecting over the fiftieth anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr's passing, there is a stark image presented by the man himself as he speaks to students from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 31, 1968 - five days before he was assassinated.

Dr King recounts a story of riding the school bus in the segregation era, having to sit on the back of the bus, the white children sitting at the front. He recalls placing his mind on the front seat and promising himself that his body would be there one day.

That's a passion unbound by the circumstances with which he was presented. He crystallised this following concept in his being:

No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come."

- Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

Dr King refused to be identified as someone lesser than someone else. He proves the possibility that we, in our minds, can transcend the milieus we find ourselves in. The mind is unimaginably powerful; invincible when it's indwelt with the thrust of integrity and virtue.

When our mind insists on being held by a vision, no matter how lofty, the heart is encouraged. And when the heart is encouraged, faith, as a process, is inevitable. When faith walks forward with feet adorned with the shoes of courage, it's the forerunner of an anointed destiny.

If we live a life that is full to the brim to the overflowing, we don't resent it. Bitterness only spurns a hope that could otherwise be chosen. If pressures fill our lives, we must live as if change will inevitably come. If it is loneliness, we trust it won't always be that way. If it is grief, we know the sun must rise on some soon horizon. Confusion and chaos may be our present location, but contentment amid such noise assures us of a peace-laden destination.

Contentment begins in the mind resolved to choose hope in the mirage of despair.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Finding-Contentment-in-a-Chaotic,-Confused-Life&id=9918422

Depending On Yourself Without Doubt - Key To Success

Depending on yourself, without a doubt, is easier than you might think. You have the courage and strength within you to move beyond fear and limitation, with which to take your life to the next level. Teachers/professionals may point the way, but you yourself need to take every step necessary to move in the direction of your soul and life purpose.

Avoid fooling yourself to believe that your happiness and success is in the hands of other people about what they will or won't do for you or if you get their validation or not. It is entirely up to you if you desire happiness and independence or not. No one is forcing you to hang out with people who don't resonate with your values, desires or dreams.

Avoid allowing anyone to tell you how to live your life when you know in your heart which steps lead in the direction of your soul's path.

Mental/Emotional health is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his/her potential while navigating the stresses and vicissitudes of life, working productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her/his community.

Mental/Emotional and Physical Health and Wellness is the act of remaining calm and focused while working things out with respect and unconditional intent to find a solution. Ultimately your personal character; personal strength and courage will evolve. To attain wellness requires you to make healthy choices in nutrition, relationships, social contact, work, and leisure activities.

Mind, Body, and Spirit transformation is possible without psychotropic drugs, artificial hypnotic inductions, rituals, life-long coping strategies, and psychic interventions. I have assisted many people to transform/ transmute the cause of what's preventing them from reaching their desires.

You can do it.

Remember, success is nothing more than a state of mind. You attract what you focus on or move it away, it all depends on the way you think. As Henry Ford aptly said, "If you think you can do a thing, or you think you can't, you are right."

https://ezinearticles.com/?Depending-On-Yourself-Without-Doubt---Key-To-Success&id=10240709

Tell Your Story: 10 Best Exercises to Get Started, Find the Right Story & Share It in Your Marketing

1. Make a list of the top 5 events in your life that affected you deeply (made you sad, mad, glad, happy, fearful, or were hysterically funny or odd)

2. Flesh out each event by including the who, when and where it happened.

3. Expand each event into a living breathing scene by writing a paragraph or two that includes as many of your senses as you can and write it in first person. Ex: "I am sitting on the shag carpet in my bedroom. I pull the fiber of the purple and pink rug through my little fingers as my cat Cleopatra sits on my lap. I hear my father yell as the front door closes. I tremble."

4. Read all 5 events and find a recurring theme in at least 2 of them and make a note of it. Is it loss? Abandonment? Sex? Love? Grief? There may be two themes screaming out in several of the paragraphs.

5. Choose one scene to expand on to start (the one with the most juice) and write a detailed character description out for each person involved. Use real names.

6. Add dialogue for all the characters. Each will have a different way of saying things... different use of vocabulary, maybe an accent, maybe they talk in rhymes. This makes it interesting to read and present either on video or stage. Be true to the characters because this is about authenticity.

7. As you write your copy/ your script,- make sure you stick to the theme(s) that you found in exercise 4-. This takes the confusion out of what to share and what not to share.

8. Have a clear picture of your characters now- you can write a one-to two minute scene and go all out- bold, brazen and big in one of your videos- this will definitely have you STAND OUT. I've done this on radio interviews, when accepting awards and in TV interviews. Not only do I talk about my story but I deliver/perform a scene. Creating a small scene like this create infinite possibilities to BE REMEMBERED!

9. No apologies. If there is any part of you that is afraid to share- clean it up by doing mindset work concurrently with your sharing (or beforehand)so you share freely and confidently and change lives.

10. When in doubt about the quality of your storytelling- Ex: Will anyone care/ listen/watch? Ask a teacher, mentor or coach. Friends are great but sometimes while they mean well they can actually suppress your real communication... because they are worried about you..when the act of storytelling is actually an act of healing and self-love and courage when done right.

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Fear, Get Out!

"The plague took about five thousand as promised, fear took millions and billions through paranoia." There is a lot I do get, and a lot that I do not get. When panic sets in for many, I get that. So, here is the nature of survival in a nut shell or short, simple format: Courage. If we face life with it, we are better off, even if we do die or whatever may happen bad or good (in that order). Even Viktor Frankl said that one with his Logotherapy trainings, as well as most self-development people, speakers and all of that.

So, I really start this article with a corollary saying: "Courage makes survivors ultimately." I understand that courage comes from genuinely and soberly understanding what needs and wants (in that order) to be faced in life and existence, not avoiding it in a paranoid or blindly fearful way. Paranoid preparation without full understanding is the ultimate "castle in the sand that washes to the sea" to speak in the terms of old Jimi Hendrix songs that make too much sense to the left or rational brain of a human being. What I mean is, paranoia and fear ultimately accomplish nothing but lessening chances of rational survival and actually increasing the chances of irrational death.

Here is what I mean by the above increase of the chances of irrational death: In the senseless rush and survival panic, you ultimately in that panic end up "a sheep going blindly off the cliff with the other sheep". My point is, think for moment and do not follow the crowd of people in a panic. Sure, I could make it more complex and fearful. What is the point to that? We have to think for ourselves creatively and courageously if we want to survive genuinely and rationally. What is the whole point of Viktor Frankl, Adam Smith (A genuine supply and demand rational economist) and Ayn Rand philosophies other than this fact anyway if you read everything they write. Plato, Immanuel Kant, John Maynard Keynes and the hereafter are not factors for the here and now, they basically say "In the long run we are all dead, and we will be herded into the hereafter anyway, so forget the here and now." Some may say a fearful "Yeah, right!?" or "No!" Know the reality though, if we want to rationally survive, reality has to be considered always in a rationally creative way, we cannot follow the crowd, the herd or fear reality and recoil at it all. We must rationally look at the facts and then act on them always. So, I end with a simple Thomas Paine quote that is also a title of a treatise he wrote: "Common sense".

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Step Out, On,Toward

Life is filled with disappointments. It throws you curve balls and unexpected mayhem. But even in all those mishaps, life can be good. You hold the key to how good your life can be. I know you have heard this before but let me give you a new perspective. First "Step Out". Step out from what... the crowd.

The crowd is not always going where you want to go. It does take courage to step away from what you know you don't want in order to move into the unknown path that will take you to where your heart desires to go. Imagine your life in that new place. This will give you the courage to step away from the crowd. Remember, the crowd can not get you to your destiny, but you can get there once you are on the right path.

Next, "Step On". Step on to what... new territory. It can be fun and exciting to walk on to new territory. New adventures await. Life does not have to be dull and unadventuresome. You can use your voice to pray for guidance and direction and then move in that path. You will be amazed at the new discoveries that will propel you on to making a good day, an even better day.

Last, but certainly not the least, "Step Toward". Step toward what... a brighter future that contains your heart's desire. Your heart's desire was put there by our Creator. You can achieve it. It takes work and it takes believing in the dream and in yourself. Look around you. Who shares your passion. Who wants to move toward a brighter tomorrow. You don't have to go alone, once you step out, then on, and now toward the destination. You will meet others along the way that will make this journey a great one. But you must take the first step.

No one can take this step for you. So you must ask yourself, how important is it to me to obtain this awesome dream that lies in my heart? If you want it badly enough, you will make the decision to go after it. If you do not, you will remain stagnant. Let me suggest to you that remaining stagnant should never be an option, not when so much good is waiting for you. There is so much more to life than just a mundane existence.

You owe it to yourself. Make this a great day, step toward your awesome tomorrow! And for each day you live to see, keep on stepping. Enjoy the journey!

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Hero Worship - Good for Spiritual Health?

Superman along with other hero figures such as Spiderman and Batman have grabbed my young grandsons' attention. They are crime fighting superheroes with a moral compass acting with super-powers for the benefit of humanity.

What makes Superman a hero is not that he has power, but that he has the wisdom and the maturity to use the power wisely. From an acting point of view, that's how I approached the part. (actor, Christopher Reeve)

I have the impression today the heroes are more violent than in the past. However, I recognise these all-action figures are very popular today judging by the plethora of superhero films. But are they good role models to identify with?

As a boy, I watched over 200 television episodes of The Lone Ranger. He was a fictional masked former Texas ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West. I loved his energy and bravery in fighting against crime for what was right. Whenever he was forced to use guns, he never shot to kill, but instead tried to disarm his opponent as painlessly as possible.

I also saw over 140 episodes of the television series The Adventures of Robin Hood. Here was another boyhood hero. According to legend, he was a champion of the common people. Being a brilliant archer and swordsman, he fought injustice with courage and audacity. He was said to rob the rich to give to the poor.

I wonder what effect these programmes had on me. Was having a hero a healthy thing for my development?

The hero as inspiring role model

Heroes certainly touch our hearts and fill us with warm approval. We can identify with them.

If we need courage to face real hardships in life, then perhaps having a strong hero image within our heads can be helpful? For myself I'm thinking of the hero who has emotional resilience.

After polling a number of people, Professor Scott T. Allison of the University of Richmond, discovered that heroes are perceived to be highly moral, highly competent, or both. More specifically, heroes are believed to possess eight traits. They are said to be smart, strong, resilient, selfless, caring, charismatic, reliable, and inspiring. Apparently, it is unusual for a hero to possess all eight of these characteristics, but most heroes have a majority of them.

Heroes tend to care about what is good. They get involved with dangerous situations despite personal cost. They do this without wanting any gain for themselves.

For example the writer Fran Striker conceived the Lone Ranger character as believing that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world. He wrote that God put the firewood there but that every man must gather and light it himself. The Lone Ranger exemplified the idea that one should be prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for what is right.

Hero worship

We might question excessive admiration of any one individual. Whether it be a fictional, legendary or an actual person. Benito Mussolini in Italy in the 1920s created the political cult of personality, also emulated by Adolf Hitler in Germany and Joseph Stalin in Russia. This cult phenomena arose when those in power in these three countries created an idealized, heroic, and venerated image of the leader. They used unquestioning flattery and praise. They employed the techniques of mass media, propaganda, the big lie, spectacle, the arts, patriotism, and government-organized demonstrations and rallies to do this.

Should we not pause before welcoming some idolised hero into our lives? What is it is about the hero that we admire? Is it their charismatic leadership in creating a sense of social cohesion and social order? Or are they giving us permission to discriminate and hate.

Living in the 18th century spiritual philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg wrote about idolatry in terms of the worship of anyone or anything that reflects a prioritising of self-interest, pleasure and material things rather than feeling concern for others and things of the spirit. From what he wrote about idolatry, I would understand we should not idolise our heroes but pay attention to the good things the hero represents.

The hero as metaphor

One might argue that actually most heroes have potential benefit to us. This is because they are figurative images within our own mind. Ones that encourage us to reconsider our decisions and view of life. Isn't conformity to social convention sometimes a problem? For example if it means extravagance keeping up with the Jones' or conformity to superficial sentiment. Deeper reflection, inspired by a hero image, can offset the risk of our personal choices going along with the crowd.

We all are beset to some degree or other by a hidden side to our nature - a shadowy part of our psyche plagued by anxiety, weakness, or anger. Those with psychological courage venture into this underworld of the psyche and face what is there. And do something about it. The hero defeats the 'baddie'. We need to find the hero within ourselves. It is easy to fight the 'enemy out there'. Harder to recognise the 'enemy within' - one that is not a projection but rather a shadowy part of oneself.

Hard times don't create heroes. It is during the hard times when the 'hero' within us is revealed. (Bob Riley, former Governor of Alabama)

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Conquering Your Fears One Day at a Time

Fear is very powerful. It affects everyone from time to time. Doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, even if you are the most successful person on this planet.

Fear can be both good and bad.

It can be good in the sense that sometimes it allows us to escape from harm.

On the other hand, fear can be bad for us in the sense that it may prevent us from pursuing what we truly desire in life.

Some examples of this include: talking to an attractive woman for the first time, starting a new business, climbing a mountain, and so on and so forth.

Getting over our fears is necessary in order to pursue the things we want to accomplish in our lives.

The way a person engages fear determines how successful that person can be throughout their life.

If a person let's fear take over when he wants to pursue a beneficial opportunity, he will be unable to even start his pursuit.

However, if a person faces her fear and pushes through it, this fear will start to become less and less powerful.

She will be considered a courageous person and will naturally increase the amount of self-confidence and success in her life.

Fear of failure is the one of the most common fears we face from day to day, but exercising courage can help us to break down this fear.

Lesson of the day:

Find something you truly want to accomplish in your life right now, something that you are afraid to do, but if you are successful, will be able to reap many personal and maybe even financial rewards.

Pursue this opportunity, despite the fear you feel and put it in the back of your mind that you don't care about being successful in the short term, because you are just gaining experience in this field.

This will take off a lot of pressure from your mind and will allow you to enjoy the experience, while building your skill set, increasing your chances of becoming successful in the future.

Also, if whatever you want to pursue requires financial stability and/or more preparation, then by all means take care of that first.

Otherwise, you will have a bad start and might even be worse off than before. Strike a balance between preparation and pursuing the opportunity in order to become successful later down the road.

I hope you all enjoyed today's post and hope you will join me on the journey to self-confidence mastery!

Cheers!

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It Takes Courage To Become Who You Really Are

It takes courage to become who you really are because it means turning into the person you know deep in your heart that you should be. Change takes audacity and willpower. But it also implies getting rid of beliefs you have embraced and implemented from people around you over the years.

What did you really wanted to be when you were growing up? Who did you want to be? What desire does light a fire in your soul?

Most times, people think about things they want to have, who they need to be, and how they would like others to perceive them. But they often let go of the dreams they truly desire and forget to reflect on how to be remembered. Time after time, they identify with memories, holding onto the past, assuming these things are defining who they are.

Yet, it takes an immense amount of courage actually to be who you really are. It is not easy to abandon beliefs and convictions which through the years, you adopted from your parents, relatives, friends, teachers, coaches, mentors, and spouse. And yes, it takes courage and work to let go of those things. But now is the time to take a stand for who you are deep inside, and the things you really believe in.

Examine Your Beliefs

Currently, you have a set of beliefs and assumptions, some of which you accepted way back in your early childhood and defended ever since. Once acquired and imprinted, you rarely question these beliefs. You naturally assume that they are all true.

If, for example, you believe that it is hard to make money; well then, it is difficult to make money. Most people often doubt and analyze almost every aspect of their lives, but their beliefs are the last thing they challenge. It takes courage to change things around.

So, if you have problems in some areas of your life, you need to examine all of your beliefs. If you have financial difficulties, look carefully at your principles about money. You have to pay attention to negative statements or views such as "I never have enough money" or "It is impossible to get ahead." Your beliefs get lodged deeply into your subconscious which continually works at creating your reality.

Making Changes Takes Courage

You have to adopt new life-believing principles, living and thinking differently. If your subconscious is picking up negativity or limiting suggestions too often, then it will accept them as real. It will work with those beliefs, day and night, until ultimately, bringing the corresponding events you hold in your mind.

When you accept limitations about yourself, then you believe that they are real until you find out otherwise. Your mind, convinced, will magnify any incidents that support your view, and will ignore or dismiss events which point to the opposite. It will distort your perception of reality and work overtime to manifest those realities.

So, it takes courage and determination to make changes and be who you really want to be. But if you change your beliefs, you change your focus, and in time it will create a new reality. No one said it would be easy. New thoughts and views are tough to imprint but not impossible.

New Thoughts New Reality

While trying to create new beliefs, you might doubt things are changing. You may feel discouraged and wonder if you are wasting your time. Your mind will try to fool you by telling you that it won't work or that nothing will happen.

However, push all of it aside, continue to feed your mind with the beliefs you want, and be patient. It takes courage to become who you really are. Everything in existence is changing. Nothing remains the same. Your circumstances are forever changing and becoming something else.

So, how could your new thoughts, if you persist in believing and imprinting them, do anything but bring you a new reality? Think about it! Let go of the wrong beliefs you have. Ask yourself about the things you want out of life and become your true self.

It Takes Courage to Let Go

Too often, you get attached to things and people, as if they are a part of you. Then you wonder why you feel somehow broken when a relationship ends or something changes. But those things are not who you are. You are not who you were in the past. And you are not the person some people judge you to be.

Therefore, who you are is the result of what you choose to think and do. It takes courage to let go, grow, and change into the person that you really are, without all of the fuss around you. The word 'courage' is French, and its true meaning is 'heart.'

And so, this why you have to follow your heart to become the person you know deep inside you came here to be. In that way, you will manifest the life you honestly dream to have. You can then have a life where everything you experience is yours and only yours.

How to Get More Courage

In every one of you, since childhood, there is a built-in desire that pushes you to want to explore the untapped potential which lies within you. But most of the time, you are afraid to become who you really are. You do not know how to get the courage to find out what you can be. Yet, if you do not, you will end up working really hard for someone who does.

So, find the courage to do the right thing by choosing for you, and not someone else. You do not deserve to live a stressful life oriented or forced by others around you. Choose based on who you want to be, and then honor that choice with your actions. Let go of what others may think!

And let go of people telling you just to be satisfied with what you have or where you are. You know you have the ability to do and be so much more. However, if you allow yourself to grow, take courage because along your journey, you might doubt your willpower to succeed and the impact you can make.

Courage in Action

As a result, you may have hundreds of other reasons as to why your growth is being obstructed in some areas of your life. But you can change the script of your life by getting more courage and become who you really are. Courage in action pays off!

So, if you want to be you truly, be happy with every fiber of your being, and become your real self, you have to get a life that makes your heart sing and fills your cup with joy every day. Only then, will you find happiness and purpose in life! It takes courage to do some inner work so that you can grow to become who you really are. But you deserve to live life with authenticity, every single day.

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Learning From Regrets

Most people have regrets about something in their lives which become an emotional baggage even when they are already dying. They feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over something that they have done, or something they haven't done or a loss or missed opportunity. They feel remorseful and sorrowful over an event, behavior or choice they have made in their lives.

Failure to act tend to be more memorable and enduring than regrettable actions.

If the mistakes made harm other people, there's a good reason to be regretful. With the realization that other choices could have been made with less negative results. But the failure to take action in a situation that may have resulted in harm could also be a situation where regret is understandable.

A lot of people who are living in the expectation according to society, friends or family lead a miserable life. They are regretful because they do not have the courage to live life to the fullest and are not brave enough to exist based on what they want to be not on what others want them to be.

According to a study I read, it was found out that women had most frequent regrets about romance, whereas men had work regrets. This implies that we don't really take the time to truly examine what really contributes to a long-term happiness and meaning in life. There are many factors that can significantly impact our happiness. But what's important is we live our lives according to our choice not with others.

We all have regrets. These can include things said or done; things left unsaid or undone. Paths that weren't followed; opportunities missed due to fear or insecurity. However, one of the biggest regrets in life by a lot of people is not being there for someone at the end of life.

Sometimes we work too much that we miss our child's milestones, youth and their partner's companionship. Most often, we are also afraid to show or express our feelings. We take life too seriously and we allow worries to diminish our happiness which should not be.

Life is too beautiful to complicate it with making a fuss over nothing. In the end, we regret every single minute of our unwise decisions.

Me, I live my life to the fullest despite the setbacks that I have in the past. There might be regrets but the bottom line is learning from them and now I am free to do what I want and not only live life but also exist happily with my kids.

Living your life according to your own terms is a key to dying without regrets. While we still have time, we should not give up too many of our dreams for the sake of pleasing others.

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Do Not Be Afraid To Stand Alone

In life, you should not be afraid to stand alone when times come where you are challenged to stand up for what you believe in. It might just be a situation that forces you to decide to stick to your belief or follow the crowd. But whatever it is, you may have to undergo rejection, hate, envy, and mocking.

Do you have the courage to stand firm for your beliefs? Can you do so by doing what you need, even if it means standing alone? Are you the lion or the sheep?

Well, at this point, a saying comes to mind: "The lion does not lose sleep over the opinion of sheep."

You have to be passionate about what you believe in and do not be afraid to stand alone. Even if it means that you feel like being attacked, rejected, mocked as well as hated by others, you have to persist. These things happen sometimes for no apparent reasons.

How to Stand Alone

However, you need to stand firm in your convictions while believing strongly in what you are doing. You have to stand-alone or hold your ground in the minority when it comes to what you believe is acceptable and what is not.

Your situation may involve something as apparently unimportant as refusing to spend time with colleagues after work but rather go home. Or it may include a circumstance that demands an extreme sacrifice on your part which you do not accept.

To stand alone requires an immense courage. This bravery is not an absence of fear, but more a decision based on your belief in something higher than your feeling of fear. Besides, even children stand alone at times for what they believe in.

The Motivation to Stand Firm

The passion, hunger, and thirst for what you have faith in are what motivate you to act in such a way. It can completely change your life, often for the better. When you are not as hungry as the wolf or the lion is, you follow the majority and become a sheep lost in the herd.

And yes, when you stand alone and hold your ground, you may lose friends, relatives and bring haters your way. But you need to focus on what is important to you and your life. In any case, it helps you identify who your friends are and who is not.

People come and go. There is no need for you to have an adverse reaction towards those people. Even if you once cared deeply about some of them, they now envy you, hate you or despise you. A lion or a wolf stands alone, hold his ground, tempt the impossible and leaves the past behind him.

Not Afraid to Stand Alone

It is the past relationships, the pain, the feelings and the emptiness that creates the loss of being part of the herd. I understand that being a part of a particular group, or a crowd if you will, feels safer, better, and more comfortable. But at times, it also stops you from growing and progressing.

So, just wish all of your haters, lost friends and forgotten relatives anything but happiness. And keep moving on, even if it means to stand alone. You have to realize that while you may feel left out now, it won't be forever.

In fact, being alone is healthy, being lonely is what is not. You are like the lion, far more intricate. Realize that you are hungry for more than what the world wants to give you. If you have to believe in something, so why not believe in something you love and care about.

Stand Alone for Your Beliefs

So now that you stand alone for whatever you believe in, you feel left behind by the crowd. But soon, however, a smaller group of stronger lions will become part of your pride. You will then satisfy your hunger for your belief and at times even play nice with the sheep.

Therefore, understand that it is OK to stand alone and be a lion. You care about the opinion of sheep, but do not let it affect you. Stand for what you believe in and hold on to it to drive you forward. Become a person of integrity, honor, courage, understanding, and hunger by being on your own.

When you stand alone, do not be afraid. Remember that you have the opportunity to have the courage of the lion and stand proud and humble with the gentleness of a dog. For if you believe in something, and stand for it, you will indeed live a life full of joy, love, respect and have no regrets.

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Having Courage and Confidence As Your Tools for Creativity

"Courage is the key which unlocks your potential, resisting fear which may try to halt your forward movement. Vibrancy in life will happen when you go after life with determination and courage."

- Dr Anil Kumar Sinha

What could you achieve if you only had some nerve?

Just like everyone else, you are creative. You have a lot of ideas in your head and want to express them. The problem is you are afraid of what others might say about your ideas or at least about your produced results.

Even great leaders lack self-confidence at certain times.

Here is a tip to help you be creative and have a different perspective of what you do, think and feel.

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." -Benjamin Mee

For obstacles to become opportunities, you need the courage and self-confidence to make things happen. I'm not going to say that it will not be a little difficult at first. You may be scared to create what your idea is. That's because you don't like to be judged or criticized.

Maybe in letting this happen, you may be surprised to the find that those who criticize or judge you don't understand what being creative really is. Most likely they are not creative. The other part of this is that you may find some people are not criticizing you; instead they are giving you feedback you need to look at for a greater creative or innovative result. That is the plus or positive you need to build on your self-confidence.

"Two times the number of confidence added by a dozen of courage is a formula for unstoppable success."

- Unknown

The idea of having the courage to do things is when you actually take action on your generated idea. This is where you can act "as if" you are confident, think with a positive attitude, speak assertively and take advantage of your strengths, skills and talent in being creative.

The confidence is when you can accept what others say to you and not let it bother you as in bringing you down. Many people have a bounce back resilience and don't let setbacks hold them back. As a creative person knows that it's a mindset that takes effort to maintain when the going gets rough.

"Some people tell you what you should and shouldn't be. Who said you had to obey them? Who made it a law? Nobody. Don't let anyone else dictate your life. Don't let people speak for you. Speak for yourself and stand by yourself whatever it takes."

- Brad D Roza quotes

Essentially, the more ideas you generate get up the courage to take action on them. You will find that your confidence will follow suit. Take actions every day to build your self-confidence as this gives you the courage to generate the ideas you have and want others to see.

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."

- Aman Dhanda

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One Life Changing Question

One of the most beautiful and powerful questions comes from an ancient source. It is a question that will get you out of bed in the morning, push you to live with passion, to care more, love more and be more. It will drive you to pursue your goals, go the gym, and to be a better spouse, parent, and friend.

When you look at the world around you and see the many challenges, asking this question will give you new insight, courage, and motivation to walk in faith, hope, and love.

During the Crimean war, hundreds of soldiers died every day. Before long more were dying in the hospitals than on the battlefield. The medical staffs were often untrained, simply people pulled off the street and forced to work in a seemingly hopeless job. That was all about to change.

Florence Nightingale had a deep and personal spiritual experience when she was 17. From then on she lived with a deep faith in God. She learned to speak 5 languages, one of which was Greek, a skill she used to study the New Testament. At 34 she entered the hospital as a nurse. With her extensive education, she quickly made a number of changes, foremost among them was sanitizing the rooms, and giving compassionate care to wounded soldiers.

Her efforts changed hospitals, and today she is known as the founder of modern nursing. So great was her impact that the soldiers wrote songs to memorialize her.

Which brings us back to our question, one Florence asked and answered a number of times.

Before he faced Goliath, David asked his brothers why no one was answering the challenge of the giant who was mocking the army of Israel. Rather than embrace David's courage, his brothers were angry at his boldness. Their response was to tell David to return home and leave them alone, as they believed no one could defeat the giant.

David then asked, "Is there not a cause?" (1 Samuel 17:29). His question was met with silence from his brothers. He however knew the answer, and went on to defeat Goliath, and become a legend in the making.

"Is there not a cause?" David's question is for each of us. What he was asking was, "Is there not a reason to fight? Is there not something more at stake than our comfort? Is there not a compelling reason to risk everything?" David did, Florence did, and we should, giving ourselves to causes greater than our own lives.

What giants do you see around you? Broken marriages? Division? Addictions? Depression? Health issues? Financial challenges? The list of giants is long. Each Goliath needs a David to stand up and be the example, the warrior who won't back down.

Feel like giving up at times? Just utter the question, "Is there not a cause?"; then get up, live with passion, and fight the giants!

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