Meet a Champion Who Gives New Meaning to Never, Ever, Ever Give Up

There are people in life who amaze you, and then there are people who are so far beyond amazing that there are no words to describe them.

Such a one is 17-year-old Kobey Pritchard from Indianola, Iowa who is a state-level competitive wrestler. He's eying a future NCAA championship-and doing so with only one leg. Yes, you read that correctly, Kobey trains like a fiend to achieve with one leg what many athletes dream of with two. And that's without the benefit of a prosthetic.

Kobey's leg was amputated when he was six due to cancer. When he found the prosthesis uncomfortable, he switched to crutches. Which means he trains--sprints, lifts weights and works out--on crutches.

Why did I choose to introduce you to Kobey? Because he gives new meaning to "never ever ever give up!" I don't care which goal you have in mind, most of us fall down, not on dreaming our dreams, but on keeping-on keeping-on when the going gets tough. Can you imagine the number of challenges, not just physical, but mental and emotional that Kobey has faced as he's worked his way ever closer to his wrestling championship dreams? Yet none of them have deterred him from keeping-on.

So what's the secret? How can you develop a Kobey-like "never give up" attitude?

1. Don't listen to other people's nay-saying.

Whenever you go for a significant goal, there are bound to be people who will say "You can't do that, you're too young/old/short/tall/lazy/etc. (fill in the blank)" or "What makes you think you can do it?" or "You've never managed anything like that before" or any number of other "You can'ts." The one thing you can't do - is listen to them!

2. Hitch your wagon to a star.

Whatever you dream of doing/being, someone else either has done it, possibly in another field, or has come darn close. Someone you can admire, be inspired by, and in a sense, pulled forward by. Look for such people - alive or long gone - to help you remember that whatever it is, you can do it!

3. There's more than one way of doing things.

Kobey has had to develop techniques and skills that are different from the more traditional wrestling holds in order to win despite his missing leg. This is not a "one size fits all" world. There are as many ways of doing things as there are individuals on the planet. Have the courage to go outside the usual ways of approaching your goals whenever you feel stymied by the ways most people have adopted.

You truly can achieve whatever goal it is you have in mind, as long as your passion for that goal fuels you, and your absolute faith in your ability to somehow, some way, accomplish it is unwavering.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Meet-a-Champion-Who-Gives-New-Meaning-to-Never,-Ever,-Ever-Give-Up&id=9749382

The World Can Be Changed With a Little Inspiration

Humans are naturally flawed; it is what separates us from God. We face numerous difficulties in our daily lives and find it tough to rise from our dire situations to achieve greatness. After a point we become complacent in our lives and work hard to just maintain it. We would only need a small push to do better than we think we can because we have the potential but we only need to step out of our comfort zone for it. So how do we step out?

When someone achieves something seemingly impossible it makes us believe, even if only for a brief moment that we can do something similar. After all, they are as human as us. It is true that their situation and background must be very different from yours but that in no way means that you can't do your best too.

Let me share a story with you, one that always inspires me to keep pushing further.

An 18-year-old boy was diagnosed with a cancer of the bone in his right leg. After many months of treatment and operations, his leg had to be amputated to save his life. He could have chosen to lie in bed or sit on a wheelchair all his life. He could have learned some small trade and lived an insignificant life because it was justified by his cancer. He could have let the cancer beat him even after the doctors extracted it all from his body. But he didn't. He didn't just sit down and complain about life or cry to God or tried doing little things in life to just exist. He trained 14 months on a new leg. He got up every day and went for walks so his body could be trained into believing that nothing had changed too much. And this was only possible because he made a decision and had the determination to stick with it. His next step was to run from east to west, across the country of Canada to make people aware about cancer and do something about it. He wanted to save lives. And it is important that we notice how his wish wasn't dependent on anyone else fulfilling it for him, he didn't ask anyone to run in his name but he got up and did it himself. On April 12, 1980 he started his 'marathon of hope' as people called it, from the easternmost point of Canada. He woke up at 4am and ran 26 miles every day, which is the length of an average marathon. It didn't matter if it rained or snowed, if the sun was shining on his head, he kept running. On his journey across the country he inspired millions. And he does so even today. His name is Terry Fox.

So if an 18-year-old boy can achieve something so difficult for him under the situation he was put; if he can stay as hopeful and determined as he did, so can we. Terry Fox has been and will continue to be an inspiration for everyone across the globe because we can all achieve the impossible, we only need to inspire and be inspired every now and then.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-World-Can-Be-Changed-With-a-Little-Inspiration&id=9455364

Struggling to Be Inspired? Here Are Some Tips!

It can be very challenging if you are pursuing a goal or vision and at some point of your journey your inspiration runs dry. This has happened so many times for me but it is about learning each time, the various methods that work to get that inspiration back. Here are the few that work for me so could possibly work for you too:

Changing your surrounding to what you love - I am a lover of nature so to be surrounded by trees and the river is a medication for my inspiration. Spend some time in your chosen place letting your mind wander. You will find that suddenly your inspiration is heightened, your stress reduced and your negative emotions will subside.

Meditation - There are so many ways to do this and exploring it can be fun too. The popular types of meditation used by many are by using music, guidance tapes, scriptures and yoga. This helps us free our mind from all pressures and worries of reality, allowing you to dig deep into your creativity.

Read a book - Reading something that you are passionate about can expand your knowledge and help you see different perspectives. When learning you tend to question all knowledge further and become hungry for more information. This triggers your inspiration and you will be amazed by how much too.

Networking - Research on different companies, mentors and individuals who are living their passions as you wish to. By learning from them and exchanging knowledge as well as experience can give you wisdom and can inspire you to continue on your journey.

Self-Development - Developing yourself meaning gaining wisdom, looking at your past for lessons to use in the future and growing as a person can really boost your inspiration. The more we learn to love ourselves and be confident, our lives can change drastically as you are more likely to face your fears to reach your dreams and always seek ways to keep moving forward. When you are able to analyse your past and see your strength then your inspiration will come too.

Conventions, Talks, Sermons and Lectures - These are brilliant and a quick fix to inspiration. You learn new knowledge, challenge acquired knowledge and leave feeling like you are ready to share that knowledge to the world. Do not be surprised if you suddenly tell everyone you know about it.

Share your skills - Sharing your skills and experience shows you that all you have acquired and developed so far are so valuable. Seeing value for all you have done so far will inspire you to keep going further and to become knowledgeable.

Have getaways - We need a moment to just shut ourselves from the world and reboot. The society we live in can be very demanding as well as trying to pursue our goals and visions in our spare time. Having a time out where there are no accesses to social media, work emails and from everyday life can benefit our inner beings so much. You will feel brand new and refreshed ready to continue on your journey inspired.

Living a life serving others and acting kind to those around you including strangers- When we live to serve, make a difference and showing love to anyone we see (whether familiar or not) you will see your perspective on life change. You become empathetic, compassionate and even more loving. You will feel affected by those suffering and those faced with injustice. You will see yourself changing - This also means your inspiration will get a big kick too!

Finding new activities and events - Volunteering and being active in the community of what you are passionate about will definitely strengthen your inspiration. You will learn new perspectives and see your skills develop too.

So the next time you feel dry, low or needing new ideas to maintain your inspiration then try these methods and you will not feel disappointed.

Xo Love and Light oX

http://ezinearticles.com/?Struggling-to-Be-Inspired?-Here-Are-Some-Tips!&id=9349449

9 Ways Introverts Can (Quietly) Outperform All the Loud People Around Them

Introverts have great strengths. They just don't go around yelling about them.
How can introverts become successful when it seems the world only has time to listen to those who shout the loudest? 

Susan Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking has been a bestseller ever since it was first published back in 2012. Cain also recently launched Quiet Revolution, which she describes as "a mission-based company that offers parenting and educational services to unlock the power of introverts." 

She recently did an "ask me anything" event on Product Hunt. Here are 10 highlights of what she had to say about how introverts can succeed and find happiness in a world dominated by louder voices.

1. Learn to take risks.

"It's easier to take risks in the service of something or someone you really care about. Professor Brian Little speaks of our "core personal projects"--the projects and people we place at the center of our lives. What and who are these for you? Once you've identified them, don't even think in terms of risk or not-risk. Just think in terms of how do you accomplish your goals."

2. Ignore the misconceptions.

"The No. 1 biggest misconception [is] thinking introverts are unfriendly or antisocial, when in fact we just like to socialize differently, more intensely, with a smaller group of people. ... I would add to this answer that people often see introverts as less powerful (because we tend to speak more softly, not enjoy conflict, etc.), when in fact introverts possess a whole suite of powers that have moved the world--powers of persistence, of concentration, of sensitivity, of ability to think deeply, and so on."

3. Practice before preaching (literally).

"I used to be really scared of public speaking, so I spent the year before my book came out (and the year before giving that TED talk) practicing public speaking in small, manageable, low-stakes settings. Do not begin by giving a TED talk! ... You want to practice over and over with audiences before whom it doesn't matter how much you seem nervous or forget what you were going to say."

4. Leverage your strengths as a salesperson.

"[F]ollow the age-old sales wisdom: "We all have two ears and one mouth and should use them in that proportion." Truly, the best salespeople listen really well and think about--and care--what their prospects need."

5. Work by yourself if that works best.

"Just ... say so. And if you can point to examples of great work you've gotten done via such a process, all the better."

6. Motivate yourself by focusing on mission.

"I remember, when Quiet first came out, feeling raw and exposed to the world. But I really did get used to it over time, and learned to focus not on the exposed feeling but rather on the sense of mission that made me write the book in the first place. That's what I tune in to now every single day."

7. Be inspired by other introverted leaders.

"Jim Collins did a famous study where he looked at the CEOs of the 11 best performing companies, and found that all 11 of them were described by their peers and colleagues as quiet, unassuming, low-key, soft-spoken, even shy. Gandhi was this kind of leader, as was Eleanor Roosevelt. Look around Silicon Valley today ... from Larry Page to Bill Gates and beyond."

8. On being an introverted entrepreneur.

"[W]hile sometimes you will have to act outside your comfort zone, it's much better to figure out how to communicate passion and conviction while still being yourself. ...  If it is coming from an authentic place, people will feel it. It also helps to have an extroverted partner or senior colleague who can do the things you don't like to do, and vice versa. My favorite example of this is Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's introverted CEO, and Sheryl Sandberg, extroverted COO. They are the ultimate yin-yang pair."

9. Learn to "advertise yourself."

"I would look for ways to showcase your expertise--whether through internal company blogs, small speaking roles at a company conference, etc. Second, if you have expertise that your colleagues could benefit from--share it! Send them emails with info they can use, etc. And finally, ... [make] a list of some of your accomplishments. ... Even if you never share the list with anyone, it will help center you emotionally around the value you bring."

http://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/heres-how-introverts-can-quietly-outperform-all-the-loud-people-around-them.html