Be Your Own Favorite Teacher

The term "autodidact" refers to someone who teaches themselves a certain subject. In other words, an autodidact is someone who is self-taught. Some famous autodidacts include Ernest Hemingway, David Bowie, Russell Crowe, Leonardo da Vinci and Frank Lloyd Wright.

We are all autodidacts in the sense that we are always learning. That is to say, we should always be learning. Taking autodidacts to the next level can be something that will enrich your life far more than just the skills you'll learn. What's more, with information and resources readily available - for free in many cases - there's no time better in history than now for the autodidact.

Build your self-confidence as an autodidact

Those who teach themselves develop self-esteem and self-reliance that will positively affect nearly every aspect of their lives. By teaching yourself, you not only learn the specific skill, but you prove to yourself that you are capable of accomplishing many things beyond what you may have believed, or what others have led you to believe about yourself. You learn to trust yourself and your abilities, and you value your own intelligence.

Empower yourself with knowledge

Self-educated people do not shy away from challenges, they relish them. As you have success at autodidacts, you will train your brain to work more efficiently, and improve problem-solving skills too. You will no longer be afraid to tackle something you don't know. You will know from experience that once you set your mind to learning something, you will be able to find the information you need, and have the ability to learn. Aside from boosting your own confidence, you will gain respect from others, and be able to serve them with your knowledge. You'll be that person friends and relatives turn to when they don't know how to do something.

Practical benefits of autodidacts

Another sense of pride you will obtain is from the amount of money you will save by teaching yourself. Everyone feels smart and savvy when they find a way to save money. Just imagine the sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction you'll experience when you save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars teaching yourself something - even figuring out how to fix something yourself.

Teaching yourself to gain a specific skill, or just for the fun of it opens up countless opportunities. The sky's the limit to what you can learn and experience in your life. Never pass up the opportunity to grow!

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Speak Words of Inspiration: Ignite Your Passion From Within

Learn by listening to your self when you speak, whether in a personal conversation or speaking to yourself silently. Listen intently to words spoken or written in newspapers, media and books. Give yourself an encouraging chance to advance by fanning the flames and engage the cinders that empower your carefully selected choice of verbal or written fired communication. Speak with purpose, joyful grace and apply communication energy in words that you choose to enlighten the world. Make your words matter, speak to educate, entertain or to add a fire of energy to your audience!

Listen to your soul, speak words of inspiration; gain clarity; learn to calculate your reactions. IGNITE A FIRE WITH YOUR INSPIRED WORDS, remember that there is power in the words that you use to communicate. When words were first organized and made into sentences, the intention was to work together, eventually they made communication and language easier. Words had their rightful place- A simple form of communication for our ancestors: the caveman.

Through evolution and throughout our lifetime on earth; in the way we live our lives; words serve as learning/teaching tools and multipurpose forms of entertainment, preservation and a new fangled way to touch the masses with the strokes of a keyboard and the ability to engage the INTERNET!!!

Words fuel and generate fire to touch the globe with e-mail, mass- marketing, media, and any other positive spin you wish to acknowledge. Like the wood that furnishes the fuel supply for the fire; SO ARE YOU AND SO AM I.

The four initial elements were known as fire, air, earth and water since then since science has proven that there are 118 elements in total. One thing that is certain; fuel is required for burning wood; the fire of light is applied to minimize the darkness, you can't have one exclusive of the other. Light was brought into the equation to eradicate the darkness. To shed light on new ways of thinking: innovative ways of working:to multiply your witnesses: to nurture your audience that were ready to learn and had fire in their hearts. The words that we convey communicate our internal landscape and demonstrate the focus of our intention, speak from the fire that ignites the passion in your heart. Fire is also expressive, and when ignited carelessly, causes turmoil, smoke and dangerous conditions. It can also INCITE MOTIVATION: INSPIRE ACTION, OR DIVERT DANGER, in its most protective form.

Following an age-old pattern of enhancing the elements; we must increase our abilities by adding fire to anything that we wish to gain or enlighten, or to function by feeding the mind with inspired thoughts to gain comprehension.

Like a Florida forest controlled-burn project, averting dry, hazardous forest fires, in the dismally hot summertime, or any excessively dry season. So can the fires of life be diverted to bring empathy and protection by minimizing a possible exacerbated, dry heat- induced catastrophe and averting flames too!

Are you the wood that feeds the fires of your life, causing smoke, extending the fire long past it's usefulness, prolonging the drama in others, even in the most undeserving victim of all: YOU? Or, are you the fire that gets things initiated, fueled and ready to function? Save the smoldering hot burning fire for the fireplace in your home, apply fire, you emit, for a worthy cause: Written, spoken or any form of words introduced and energized correctly: light and inspire others profoundly AND PERFECTLY. . .

Some fireplaces come readily equipped with screens and smoke filters: uniquely designed, for your fireplace, strategically placed to contain the flames in your home to a designated area; serving a worthy purpose, so can your written, and spoken communication be applied to serve; avert; or minimize a fire directed to others, or pointed at you! Keep your fire burning clean as we speak humbly to ourselves: to one another: and listen to our inner words uninterrupted:realizing how our internal words are fed and ignited. Use your own communication skills to your benefit and fan the flames of success with unequivocal passion and conviction.

I enjoy learning from you and from others offering me knowledge continuously!

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Build People Up

We All have gifts and talents that we naturally master. While others seldom wonder "How we do certain things", we can't even give them explanations as to how we effortlessly do them.

One of my most precious gifts is to "Build People Up". I can help people become more aware of their divine magnificence, make them feel like a "Million Box" as well as empower/inspire them to reach their goals & live their dreams. How do I do it? I often ask myself that question and honestly the answers I get are:

I BELIEVE in the human potential, because of that when I connect with someone, I can Feel and See in my mind what they are capable of or not...

I BELIEVE that skills can be learned and talents mastered so blessed is the one willing to Pay the Price of mastery with Passion, Persistance & Purpose

I BELIEVE that Success, Wealth & Power are within the reach of the Ones who desire it. Yes, some people are born in environments more propice to facilitate all of the above; however, many have acquired these without pre-existing privileges.

Before Building Them Up, the pre-requisite is a thorough inquiry aka one-on-one heart to heart connection to get to the roots of the clients' desires and build a solid base for results from the get-go.

Sometimes, we see people living their lives and we wish that they would have something different, have what we have or more but we neglect to Ask them if they are happy and to find out what they really want.

I have some very happy and content relatives who live in remote villages without electricity and modern day conveniences but they do not get up every morning and complain about their way of life. They farm their land; spend time in nature, do the things they love and thank God for their blessings. Some of them are very happy and would not live any other way.

I also have some very rich friends who are happy and others who are miserable despite the abundance in their daily life, the luxury & the millions in the bank.

So in my humble opinion, instead of assuming that others want what we have or what we desire; it is better to ask them:

1- What they REALLY want or desire

2- Why do they want it?

3- By When?

4- Impact of having it and it having it

This will allow us to get a very clear understanding of what is in their hearts & minds. This makes the "Building Up" process easier and more relevant.

There are several methods that can be used, one of them is the "WHY" questioning process: this consists of asking "WHY" over and over again like an eager 5 year old looking for answers until you get to the Roots.

Do not do it to annoy people, watch your tone, do it gently, look for signs, watch their body language, feel their energy while you focus on getting the right answers for them.

I actually enjoy this process and find it very effective because it can be fun and often connects to childhood memories so the client feels safer sometimes and even amused/emotional.

This method doesn't work with Everyone, that is why coaching is so fun, you get to study your clients and figure out the best method is for each client so you can help them get RESULTS.

PS: Sometimes people want something that they Already have, therefore, making them Aware of it becomes part of the coaching process. You would be surprised with the results you get with some clarity processes to bring up the real issues as well as the Best in People.

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6 Effective Ways to Focus on Your Personal Goals and Avoid Getting Distracted

Like many people around the globe, is it becoming more and more difficult for you to avoid the ever-present distractions of our time and move purposefully toward the targets you set for yourself?

If your answer is yes, then I want to assure you that all hope is not lost yet. You still have the chance to do more in your life. You have what it takes to do what you want to do despite being bombarded on a minute-by-minute basis by the incredible amount of information, for example, which tends to get you stuck and confused rather than empower you to take action and succeed in life.

I've personally had to deal with lots of distractions as I try to become more productive as an online writer and publisher. Finding time to feed myself alone can be a demanding activity which robs me of a sizeable amount of time to create more content online.

As I work from home, a single visitor to my home can stay for such a long time that they often end up disrupting my day's schedule. It's too bad if it's all about small talk!

Unforeseen life events are another source of distraction.

Now, if you're a mompreneur or a single parent working from home with those lovely precocious kids all around you, I can well imagine how your day could be turned into a nightmare.

TV, emails, phone calls, and excessive noise from neighbours who hardly understand the harm they're causing are just a few more sources of the distractions that are making all of us do less, thereby missing our targets, day after day.

What is the solution to all these? I've got six ideas to share with you to help you focus better. They've been helping me a lot and I hope you too will find them extremely useful.

1. Never lose sight of your original vision.

In whatever you do, let your original motivations be your guide. Remind yourself frequently about why you decided to do what you're doing. This should give you the needed will-power to stay committed no matter the distractions.

2. Listen to advice but let your intuition be the final decider.

Do not allow the enormous number of tips-based and how-to articles, podcasts and videos on the internet these days to make you stray from your goals. If anything, they should provide a guide so you do things right and maximize your outcomes. In the final analysis, what your gut instincts tell you should moderate or even override some of these pieces of advice.

3. Identify the things or people that are a constant source of distraction in your work life.

This will enable you to devise the right approach to at least minimize the nuisance and achieve your production targets.

4. Have a daily schedule you can implement.

It is no use putting too much on the plate only to end up doing so little at the end of the day. Your daily to-do list should be an enabler rather than a noose around your neck. Make it simple and achievable so that you can have a laser-sharp focus on only what is doable.

It is better to properly implement one or two tasks within a set period of time than to have lots of poorly executed personal projects. Too many uncompleted projects can make you waste resources. They can frustrate you or become a source of pain and permanent regret.

5. Make room for "any other business" inside your schedule.

Like it or not, the unannounced visits will happen once in a while. You'll have to attend to the children - and oh, some can really be demanding! There's absolutely nothing you can do about that. You must eat well in order to stay healthy and productive.

Life's unexpected occurrences will always be with us.

This is why you have to find an effective way to accommodate all these within your otherwise tight schedule.

I believe this is the only way to go on being focused and productive in spite of the obstacles that may come your way.

6. Finally, get enough rest.

You need not overwork your body and mind in order to get what you want out of life.Find enough time to engage in healthy habits which will enable you to sleep soundly and rest better.

What is the use? You may ask. According to the experts, one big benefit of having adequate sleep, rest and relaxation time for yourself is that it allows you to gain clarity and psychological stability.

It goes without saying that you will come back more energized to focus on your tasks and achieve your desired results.

So, there you have it. The distractions will never go away completely. In fact, the world is gearing itself up for more to come. That's the reason why you need to cultivate these habits to stay focused on your tasks and personal goals.

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Use Your Gifts to Bless the Lives of Others (By Dr. Shauntel Peak-Jimenez, Ph.D)

You have to maximize the time that you have left here on earth. And part of maximizing the time you have left means that you are living a more meaningful and purposeful life. And it also means that you are using your gifts to bless the lives of others in a powerful way.

If you are like me then making a difference in the lives of others makes you feel amazing. And if you are like me then sitting on your gifts is not an option. God has given you all of your gifts so that you can use them not so that you can hoard them. So don't hoard your gifts use them to empower the lives of others and the world. For many years I sat on my gifts because I didn't know how to release them. And it wasn't until my past employer fired me due to corporate downsizing (in 2009) that my mindset began to shift, and I learned strategies on how to soar into my purpose.

And once I started to soar I started to feel happier and more fulfilled. I realized that I deserved to be on the path that was meant for me, the path that brought me an abundance of life satisfaction, and the path that resonated with the difference I was born to make. I also realized that life was passing me by at an alarming rate so I had to stay on my purposeful path or miss out on time that I could never recapture.

But does being on my purposeful path mean that life is "a bed of roses?" Absolutely not. I have lost loved ones, faced obstacles, and had many frustrations and setbacks. But I always had a place of peace to escape to called purpose. And I always end up coming out challenges better and with even a greater understanding of what I am called to do here on earth. I am a firm believer that challenges, obstacles, and setbacks can hold us back or catapult us forward, the choice is ours.

If you are ready to use your gifts to bless the lives of others then you have what it takes to do so. And don't feel like your gifts are insignificant because they are not. God would never give you insignificant gifts. And you have gifts that can be a blessing to someone else in a big way. Never minimize what you have to offer to the world and how you can help to transform the lives of others. Your gifts matter.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Use-Your-Gifts-to-Bless-the-Lives-of-Others&id=9877477

How To Develop And Use Affirmations.

What are Affirmations?

Affirmations are words and phrases stated in the present that allow you to condition and empower yourself for success in whatever your goals may be. Most often, people think that affirmations are used to focus on positive thinking. But affirmations can be used for a variety of benefits including enhancing relaxation, stimulating creativity, and strengthening self-control among numerous other values.

Your subconscious mind acts much like a computer - whatever you tell it to do, it does. So, if you say you want to do something, your consciousness is filled with the desire to make it happen on a multitude of levels. But if you say you are doing something, your consciousness begins doing it now. The more you practice affirming, the more it becomes second-nature.

By affirming daily, you allow yourself to be more comfortable, more beautiful, more joyous, and more in control of your life.

Basic Affirming - Guidelines

Remember, your words have power. Choose them carefully to create what you truly want.

Step 1. Achieve a Meditative State by taking deep breaths and allowing yourself to relax.

Step 2. Make a list to identify what it is that you want to create or change. Let's use the example of "I don't want to feel resentful."

Step 3. Empower. Take each statement on your List and empower it by making it a statement of positive action now. So, "I don't want to feel resentful" becomes "I am free of resentment."

Step 4. Repeat your affirmations regularly.

1) Songs. You can sing your affirmations by putting them to music. You can make up your own tunes or use the melodies of popular songs.

2) Post-it Notes. Write your affirmations on post-it notes and place them on mirrors, the refrigerator, in your date book, in strategic places where you will see them often.

3) Use specific daily activities as opportunities to repeat affirmations, e.g., bathroom breaks, meal preparation, time you spend in the mirror (very powerful), while exercising, bathing, etc.

4) I find that affirming during mundane activities is particularly powerful, e.g., turning the key in the lock on your door. You can also attach specific affirmations to specific activities. This practice soon becomes second-nature. a) Whenever you feel that you are in the process of doubting yourself, be sure to affirm and get back on track.

Examples And Types Of Affirmations

1) The Gripper. This is a situation where you feel your entire body tighten and your breath constrict. The Gripper can be the cause and/or result of anxiety, stress, and dread among other states of consciousness.

· Think of specific situations in your life where "the grip" gets you and form an Empowering Affirmation to assist you to choose to respond rather than to react. Example: My body is relaxed and breathe freely and fully as I perform this activity.

2) The Time Piddler. This is really a tactic that we quite often use to avoid doing something we don't want to do. Time Piddling always leads to last-minute stresses that cause less-than-desirable results - which inevitably lead t more Time Piddling the next time you have to deal with the situation.

· Take a look at the reasons you want to avoid handling the situation and deconstruct them so that you can manage the activity and your time. Example: I can handle this situation effectively, efficiently, and successfully with ease.

3) The Rusher. In a hurry much? WHY? Rushing is another indication that we may be avoiding certain responsibilities and situations. People often confuse being busy for being effective in their lives, which often leads to illness and injury - and to another form of Time Piddling. The reality is that there is only NOW. Rushing is, in a sense, focusing on the future because you're not fully present in the moment. When you rush, you miss the nuances of the full experience of your activities.

· Consider WHY you feel the need to rush to do so many things. Give yourself the opportunity to see what you could be doing to enjoy life more but are missing out on because you've decided on all the things you should be doing. Notice my choice of words to focus on the present moment of being. Example: I allow myself time for my wellness and I have plenty of time.

· Note: "Wellness" includes fun!

Now, have some fun creating affirmations!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Develop-And-Use-Affirmations&id=8843132

Give Yourself Permission to Live Your Purpose

Become a Certified Life Coach and follow your purpose to inspire and motivate others to succeed. There are people who feel stuck and don't know how to move forward. They need your gifts and inspiration to empower them forward. You have what it takes to reach others in a very powerful way.

Your story and voice can make a difference. There is no need for you to be confused about why you are here on earth. You are here to inspire change. You are here to make a difference and you are here to leave a powerful legacy. As a Certified Life Coach you can not only help others live their best life possible, but you can also launch a coaching practice. If you have ever wanted to be a business owner this is a great opportunity for you to up-level your life and the lives of others.

There is greatness in you and regardless of how you started in life it is how you end that matters. You don't have to go another day contemplating on following your dream to be a Certified Life Coach. This is your time... this is your moment. And regardless of any detours or challenges you have had in life they can be an opportunity to help someone else break through obstacles in their life.

We were all born with purpose and we all deserve to live the life that we were designed to live. We can't continue to put our goals and dreams on hold. Decide today that you are going to be all that you were born to be. Life is too short not to follow your purpose. Following your purpose is rewarding and it can unlock an abundance of blessings for you.

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One Person I HATE More Than Anyone Else, Meet My Number 1 Enemy (By Felicia Starks)

If there's one thing I know about internet marketing journey... I've failed way more times than I've succeeded. I can even take it a step further and just flat-out admit that over the years I've failed, more often than not, in most of the other areas of my life as well.

- Business ventures

- Relationships

- Finances

- Etc, etc...

But there is always a positive side to failure...

You have nowhere to go but "up"

As Winston Churchill once said:

"Success consists of going from failure to failure

without loss of enthusiasm."

But here is one person who I HATE more than anybody else who is solely responsible for all my failures.

My Evil Twin.

You see, on the surface I may seem like a fit and cool woman who's in control of my life. And sometimes I am. But MANY times I'm NOT. Deep down inside I have an evil twin. She's this chick who has no clue what to do with her life. One side wants to eat according to her nutrition plan, get her training workout done, get her IPA's (income producing activities) done, be a great mom, daughter, sister and friend, give back to the world, and empower, uplift, inspire and positively impact people's lives. But my Evil Twin wants to sleep in without an alarm clock, skip my workout, watch "Scandal" and my favorite TV shows, eat cheat food all day, surf the web all day, and snuggle with my "blankie" on the couch.

BOTH of these people exist and are alive inside my head...

And they fight with each other all day long like Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde trying to see who can win.

And guess what?

YOU have the same two people inside YOUR head too.

The "Winner" inside all of us is who we want to be.

- In control and emotionally stable

- Confident but humble

- Driven yet balanced

- Focused and productive

- Unselfish and kind

- Patient and persistent

On the other hand, our evil twin is the person we must learn to despise. It's the person we're embarrassed about. The one we're not proud of. The one who opens their mouth and says stupid stuff we regret. The lazy one that gives up when things get tough and makes us feel like a friggin' loser.

And here's the thing...

Our Evil Twin is always there. Inside our head ready to take over and screw everything up. But don't try to ignore or deny your Evil Twin. Make sure you at least acknowledge their existence. If you don't, they'll take over your life.

Then STARVE them.

The only way to do this is to consistently FEED the "Winner" inside you BEFORE your Evil Twin takes over.

When you do, the "winner" in you becomes like a tree planted

by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose

leaf does not whither... whatever you do will prosper (Psalm 1:3).

This is how you take away ALL of your Evil Twin's powers and paralyze her from taking over your life.

So remember: you have TWO people living inside your head...

The "Winner" you want to be and the Evil Twin you despise.

The Winner in you wants to live everyday with a purpose and have an extraordinary life.

Feed her like a hungry HIPPO!

But your Evil Twin strives for mediocrity, constantly trying to beat you down and make you average. Go ahead; acknowledge your Evil Twin's existence. Then stomp her out like a fire by FEEDING the Winner inside you. It's the only way to avoid the internal poison of your Evil Twin and stop her from making you average, like the status quo and miserable.

ACTION STEPS TO KILL YOUR EVIL TWIN:

One of the most effective ways to kill your Evil Twin is by doing feared things first. Every night, right before bed, make a list of the five things you must complete the next day for you to have considered it a total success. After you've written your five things (no more, no less), figure out which item on the list you dread and fear the most.

C'mon... you know there's at least ONE thing on that list you do not want to do.

Next, schedule time to make sure you accomplish this item first, before you do anything else the next day.

In other words...

Always Attack and Do Your Feared Things First

Whether it's making a video, writing a value rich blog post, training, making a phone call you don't want to make, an unresolved conflict, or other "unfinished" business in your life...

... The more you delay or procrastinate, the more the fear will grow and build up inside of you allowing your Evil Twin to dominate your life.

But when you do your feared things first, it will empower you and amazing things will automatically start to happen to your body and your life.

Your confidence will EXPLODE.

If you're still not convinced that attacking your fears is relevant to killing your Evil Twin, while helping you achieve your dreams, goals, and desires...

Just read this quote and it you'll probably think twice:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented, fabulous?'

Actually,who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Marianne Williamson

-----------------

I totally agree. Facing your fears head on and feeding the "winner" inside you is clearly the path to reaching your full potential with your body and your life. And if you do this consistently it will take your personal discipline to a whole new level.

Think I'm crazy?

Or can you relate?

Hit reply or comment below and let me know your thoughts.

Face your fears with confidence,

My name is Felicia Starks and I am a certified personal fitness trainer and lifestyle weight management specialist. My passion is optimum health & fitness as well as financial freedom and my mission is inspire and empower people to live a fit & healthy lifestyle while taking control of their own financial future. You've come to the right place if you need to lose belly fat and bring your sexy body back but you are...

Tired of working out hard and long yet seeing little to no results?

Getting flabbier despite restrictive dieting and excessive exercise?

Having your fat loss results sabotaged by cravings?

Confused about exactly where to start and how to keep motivated?

I'll provide practical fitness tips and recipes to help everyday women shrink fat effortlessly with or without a gym membership.

"You don't have to get it right, just get MOVING!"

http://ezinearticles.com/?One-Person-I-HATE-More-Than-Anyone-Else,-Meet-My-Number-1-Enemy&id=9235502

The True Meaning of Giving

Today, I felt the urge of writing further about "The True Meaning of Giving" responding to some of the queries that I've received about the general definition people have about "giving". I'd like to shed light on the essence of giving in my view and point out that it's rather a much broader concept than many of us has confined it. I'd also like to clarify few misconceptions about "giving", from the feedback that I've received.

Perhaps, the first two things that generally come to our minds when we hear the word "giving" is either charity i.e. giving money or volunteering i.e. giving time and in spite of both areas being widely accepted forms of giving in the society, I say both are still relatively a portion of a big pie called "giving". It's also worth discussing here the bigger impact created by the form of "giving" we choose to be part of. Although being a very noble way to contribute to or relieve our less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world, most charitable and voluntary efforts tend to have a short term impact on the receivers through providing core needs like food, drink, shelter and cloths. This in my opinion will not support the receiving individuals or communities to sustain long term advantage, therefore, the aid will be expected to come again and the question here is: "What value this kind of giving has added to the world so far"?

In best case scenario's, there will be schools, hospitals or larger investments done through such humanitarian efforts to drive long term social and economical values like education or health. I particularly admire those developmental projects or initiatives that are launched to empower individuals or communities to run their lives by giving them the right tools and further, teaching them how to use these tools to create a more promising future for them and their families. I commend programs that coach and mentor people on how to be productive members in the society, how to get the right education that will enlighten their lives and in turn they can be a blessing to others once they are self-sufficient themselves. You can imagine the kind of world we will be creating if each one of us contributed by "giving" a solution to others problems that can shift their lives rather than just "giving" them a meal or some money that can only last for a day or so. The beauty is in "giving" people hope by altering the way they choose to live their life positively. For me, this is the true meaning of giving. In this occasion, I can't help mentioning the Chinese quote that says: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime".

Furthermore, one of the most common misconceptions about "giving" I wanted to clarify here, is that people mostly want to have the "saint" mentality when they think of "giving". I heard many comments around: "if there is a personal gain for me by doing this or that, then how can that be related to giving?", implying that "giving" must in all cases be one sided or without a return!!! I don't even know from where such distorted image of "giving" has been originated. In life, balance is required to ensure consistency and continuity. One thing we need to understand is that God has created this universe with abundance. There are enough things for everyone in here and sharing will even create plenty of supply.

Researches have shown that people do strive for reciprocity in the long run and that people who get some sort of material or emotional rewards as a result of their contributions are more likely to give more; and this is a basic human need as well. So, depriving yourself in order to give others will ensure that even if you give, you don't give with love, at the same time; your giving activities will not last for long time because you are unable to see the: "What is in it for Me"? Mother Teresa said: "It's not how much we give; but how much love we put into giving".

In the hadith of prophet Mohammed (PBUH): "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself"; is a strong indication that this balance is a requirement of our human nature to have healthy individuals and peaceful societies. You are an emotionally healthy individual if you love good things for yourself. Equally important; is that you must love for your fellow humans the same good that you choose for yourself. If any of the two conditions are missing; then you are nor a true believer neither an effective giver.

To conclude, "giving" is a very deep term, we cannot limit it to few handful activities just because this what we mostly see common around us. The essence of "giving" is in freeing people from their psychological chains or idols, altering their way of thinking by providing solutions, revealing to them new possibilities they never heard of and empowering them to take charge of their lives once again. I truly believe in dedicating personal time to share knowledge, train and coach others to help them succeed spiritually, mentally and physically. Once they succeed, they are ready to make a wider impact in other people's lives by helping them succeed as well. Here, I can proudly say that we have understood the true meaning of "giving".

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-True-Meaning-of-Giving&id=9627813

Your Life Story Matters

We all have a story and you can use your story to help transform the lives of others, yes, your story matters. You should not keep your story bottled up inside. Your struggles, your pain, and your achievements can all be instrumental in the lives of others. What good is having a story if you never share it? God has blessed you tremendously, and He has given you something powerful that can be a blessing to others.

You may be surprised to know that your story can be converted to life coaching programs, life coaching seminars and workshops, and even coaching classes. You can create programs and services based on your life story that can inspire others forward. Is it easy? No. But is it worth it? Yes. I am a witness to that.

For example, I never imagined when I lost my corporate nursing job in 2009, due to corporate downsizing, that my life story would be used to help others become life coaches and launch a coaching business. But God never allows us to go through anything without it becoming a powerful testimony.

I believe that one of the worst things we can do is keep our mouth closed. My late mother used to say "a closed mouth doesn't help anyone." And that is so true. If we don't share our story how can we use it to empower, encourage, inspire, and motivate others? And even if you think your story can't make a difference, I am here to tell you that it can. But you will never know if you don't take a leap of faith.

Just think of an obstacle you have faced and conquered. Think about how you have gone from pain to power. Think about an achievement you have made, or a goal you have accomplished. Now imagine how amazing it would be for you to build solution-driven programs and services for others, based on your life story. And don't let fear stop you. Even if you feel some fear about getting in front of others in a big way, let your faith rise and inspire you into a more purposeful and meaningful life.

One of the things that makes me feel so wonderful is helping others. It's a gift that "keeps on giving." As a nurse I have always had a heart to serve, but God knew there was more for me, and that I had more work to do. I never lost my passion to make a difference in the lives of others, but my life story has given me an opportunity to serve in a way that is bigger than I could have ever imagined. And the same thing God did for me, He can do for you too. It is possible!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Life-Story-Matters&id=10009442

Great Feedback Depends On Encouragement

Author, Ted Engstrom, wrote a story that happened many years ago at the University of Wisconsin to a group of extraordinary young men who had the "ability to put the English language to its best use." These students were essayists, novelists, and poets. They "met regularly to read and critique each other's work."

Engstrom said, they "were merciless dissecting the most minute literary expression into a hundred pieces. They were heartless, tough, even mean in their criticism." They "called themselves the Stranglers." They strangled all the hopes and dreams they each had.

The young women at the university with literary talent decided to begin their own club calling it the "Wranglers". "They read their works to one another but criticism was much softer, more positive, more encouraging. Sometimes, there was almost no criticism at all. Every effort, even the most feeble one, was encouraged."

Study Done 20 Years Later:

An alumnus from the university, twenty years later, did a "study of his classmates' careers". He noticed " not one" of the Stranglers made any "literary accomplishment".

On the other hand, "from the Wranglers had come six or more successful writers, some of national renown such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who wrote The Yearling."

In both groups the education and talent were equal. Ted Engstrom "concluded, the Stranglers strangled, while the Wranglers highlighted the best, not the worst."

What was the difference between the Stranglers and the Wranglers evaluations?

The Stranglers demoralized their members sucking out all their creativity by criticizing everything they did wrong. They beat each other down. Left no one standing!

The Wranglers on the other hand, built on the strengths of their members. They encouraged, inspired, motivated and helped their members to continue developing and creating their writing projects. Honest sincere compliments lift others up encouraging them to want to continue the work they are doing.

At Toastmasters positive evaluations are given:

As a Toastmaster member since 2009, we learn to help other members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills. At Toastmasters constructive feedback is given on prepared manual speeches. Constructive feedback is given in a positive friendly atmosphere. Evaluators listen carefully to the speaker they are evaluating and tell them what they have done well to build the speakers confidence, and then make one suggestion that they can improve. Every person needs positive encouragement to motivate and inspire them to the next level of their journey.

Successful Leaders Are Wranglers:

Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay cosmetics said, "Never giving criticism without praise is a strict rule for me. No matter what you are criticizing, you must find something good to say... Criticize the act, not the person."

Harvey Mackay, businessman and author, says, "Successful leaders.. understand that results reflect their management skills. Constantly belittling or blaming means that either the employee isn't a good fit or that the criticism isn't being delivered effectively... Positive results start with a positive environment in which employees know that they will be treated with respect even when they make mistakes."

Words have power:

The words you say to others are powerful. Think before you say them!

What 5 ways can you encourage and empower others to be good wranglers/ good finders to family, friends, and fellow employees?

1) Show them you care about them and want to learn about them. Ask them about their families, their hopes, challenges, and dreams.

2) Matt McWilliams, online marketing expert, says "Use the four magic words: I believe in you. Take the time to tell your team, your friends, your family, and your followers that you believe in your abilities and that you are confident that they will succeed."

3) Written words of praise last a lifetime!

When did you last thank someone who helped you in some way? (Your mentor, parent, grandparent, coach, teacher, boss.) Did you write them a note of thanks, or send them a text to tell them thank them? If they are no longer with you on earth, write a blog on the net memorializing their work with you.

President Abraham Lincoln when he died had 8 newspaper clippings in his pocket on the positive things written about him during his re-election campaign. He had read and re-read these newspaper clippings many times, to remind him of the nice things they had written about him. During his presidency he was maligned many times by the newspapers.

When Mark Eklund, a young soldier, died in Vietnam, he had two well -worn sheets of paper in his pocket that he had read and re-read many times. On the two sheets were "all the good things" his classmates had written about him when he was in the eighth grade. ("All the Good Things" by Sister Helen P. Mrosla.) Written words of praise last a lifetime!

4) When you speak about your employees, your children, your spouse or sibling in public, praise them to others. When you are speaking to a team member at work and are talking about another team member say something positive about them. Build others up by building on their strengths.

5) Chris Martin, Author Development Specialist at LifeWay Christian Resources, say, "Listen to others' concerns and ask how you can help. One of the best ways to earn the ears of others is by learning to use your own. When you use your ears and listen to the concerns of others, you tell them that what preoccupies them matters to you, and even if you can't do anything about it you care." So stop talking and listen to others.

Leaders are wranglers and good finders who build on the strengths of their employee/ team members, family, and friends. They show respect, increase the self-esteem of others by helping them develop through their strengths, and building on them. Just like Toastmasters, - leaders who are wranglers/ good finder begin with, what their team member/employee did well, and explain, and demonstrate how to correct something that has been done incorrectly.

The "Wranglers" built on the strengths of their members. They encouraged, inspired, motivated and helped their members to continue developing and creating their writing projects.

In all of life, people need praise and encouragement to improve, to be inspired, to learn, and grow. When President Lincoln and Mark Eklund, a young soldier died, they had with them well-worn "treasured" sheets with " words of praise" to them.

Words of praise last a lifetime!

Begin today to be a "Wrangler Good Finder Leader " who encourages and inspires their people to success.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Great-Feedback-Depends-On-Encouragement&id=9752160

10 Motivational Blogs That Will Change Your Life

Addicted2Success

Addicted2Success seeks to empower and educate their following using educational materials, positive messaging and life changing stories from around the world. In just four and a half years, Addicted2Success' content has garnered 54 million views.

Tiny Buddha

Tiny Buddha combines a motivational blog, community discussion board, and an abundant supply of inspirational quotes. Tiny Buddha is a great place to get your fix of inspiration and connect with like-minded people.

The Utopian Life

The Utopian Life was created by Thai Nguyen to share bits of wisdom, the latest research, and unique ideas. The Utopian Life provides their content to serve as a tool to help motivate readers to make positive growth.

Planet of Success

Planet of Success, unlike many other blogs, focuses on quality over quantity. Steve Mueller writes and curates Planet of Success with a model that focuses on quality over quantity. While there may not be new content uploaded every day, the content that gets published is relevant and based on real experience.

Everyday Power

Everyday Power takes a more in-depth approach to motivation and focuses on long-term strategies for personal growth, rather than simple "tips" and "tricks. The blog features hundreds of influential authors from around the world.

Positively Positive

Positively Positive is... well, positive. They have broadcasted posts from over one million people that relate to living a positive life and getting motivated to make the change you desire.

The Daily Motivator

The Daily Motivator is a great way to start each day off on a positive note. Ralph Marston authors this blog which posts daily positive reminders and inspirational anecdotes to help you get motivated.

The Change Blog

The Change Blog is a unique community of 50,000+ people, sharing their own experiences. The articles vary immensely so you will be able to find anything you are looking for.

Motivation Grid

Motivation Grid covers a variety of topics. Promoting their message through authentic stories, tips, quotes, and motivational videos.

PickTheBrain

PickTheBrain was established in 2006 and have since become a leader in online self-improvement. PickTheBrain provides articles on a broad spectrum of topics related to self-improvement and motivation.

That's all!

We hope you found our list helpful! Our mission is to help enable people to reach their goals and quite often the biggest obstacle to achieving your goals can be finding a way to stay motivated.

http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Motivational-Blogs-That-Will-Change-Your-Life&id=9472135

Stop Complaining (By Jeanna Gabellini)

Back in my thirties I set an intention one year to stop gossiping. I don't necessarily consider myself a big gossiper, but I do it. What's the big deal about gossiping? I don't feel good when I am repeating a story about someone that doesn't need to be told, if you know what I mean.

(Keep reading, even if you don't give a poop about gossiping. I have a bigger point to make.)

I consider gossip to be talking about someone, or even myself, for any reason other than to celebrate, acknowledge, learn, or create a solution. If I am not seeking to empower someone with the conversation, I'm actually depleting my own power.

If I'm gossiping, it is usually because I have an unconscious desire for something. It may be to get attention or to feel powerful or maybe even to get sympathy (i.e., "Can you believe Joe Blow did that to me?!"). So, now I'm feeding myself from a place of lack. Retelling a negative story is not a logically good decision.

And you are spending time and energy on something that doesn't thrill you in the first place. So now you get to experience the negativity two times or more, depending on how many times you repeat the story.

Another thing that potentially happens is that you enroll the person you're talking to into the same negative emotions. Pretty soon they are colluding with you and getting all fired up. Now you're both sending negative waves of emotion.

The bottom line is, whatever you focus on, you get more of. Ever notice that when someone close to you does a few irritating things in one day that capture your attention, it feels as if there's been an avalanche of bickering by day's end? That's because the world is mirroring your thoughts back to you.

All of the above applies to anytime you complain about any circumstance in life, not just about certain people. When you catch yourself repeating negative stories, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I really want from telling this story?
• What will be the impact on the person I am talking to?
• What will be the impact on the person or circumstance I'm talking about?
• How does it feel to be telling this story?
• If I could have any result I wanted about this situation or conflict, what would it be?
• What are two or more positive actions I can take to turn this situation around?
• Is this how I want to spend my time with the person I am talking to?

These questions will support you in stepping fully into your power.

I'm a big advocate of telling a story to a respected person in your life for the sake of creating a solution or to shift your energy by having a different perspective. If you simply need to vent, let the person you're talking to know that you're venting and then set a time limit. Five to fifteen minutes is usually enough to give a good emotional dump. Any more time and you are just rehashing all the little details.

The flip side of all this is when you're the person listening to the complaining. You have a choice. You do NOT have to listen to anything that does not feel good. You can simply request that the person talk to someone else about the situation or gently guide the conversation in a positive direction.

If you catch yourself joining in the negative downward spiral, stop. You can even tell your friend, "Hey, I just noticed that I was supporting you in keeping the problem alive versus feeling better. Let's switch our conversation to something more solution oriented."

Complaining your life away usually comes from a fear that you can't have what you want.

If there are two ways to communicate, either from love or fear, I lovingly remind myself to come back to love.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE?

You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jeanna Gabellini is a Master Business Coach who makes it effortless and exciting for conscious entrepreneurs to attract all the clients they want without doing more, working more, or marketing more. Grab her FREE audio on dialing in your biz here: http://masterpeacecoaching.com/freecd2

http://ezinearticles.com/?Stop-Complaining&id=9815772

How To Overcome Distraction & Live In Reality

Overcoming distraction is about knowing how to focus on two things at the same time, but exactly what those two things are not commonly understood or practiced.

Many of us go about our business in a state of sensual, mental or emotional distraction. An egregious example is seen in people walking around while phoning, texting or game playing - then walking into walls, falling into water fountains or wrapping their car around a tree. It would be funny if it weren't pathetic - like in the slapstick comedies of early film.

Distraction is a primary technique of hypnosis. When you're distracted you become open to the suggestion of the hypnotist or whomever or whatever is distracting you. A person standing on the corner looking up will cause many passersby to also look up. This is the power of suggestion.

To be distracted is to lose yourself - to lose your soul so to speak. Why? Because distraction is a departure or moving away from your center of being - which is your only true reference point as you interface with the world. Virtually all mistakes and misperception happens when in an incorrectly focused state of mind. You make the wrong decision every time.

Take, for example, the distraction of excitement. A stock technique of the high-pressure salesperson is to excite you about his product or service. Once excited you're virtually sold because excitement distracts you from your reference point of truth or reality.

When you get home and the excitement wears off, you scratch your head wondering why you bought or paid so much for that used car, time-share, "free" vacation or service you really didn't want or need. - Which is why many states require a 3-day cooling off period before a contract becomes binding. That the government has to protect us from ourselves reveals how little we understand about ourselves. How lacking in self-awareness we are.

The key to living in distraction-free reality is to cultivate a little distance from the person, place or thing you're relating to in a given situation. See, hear and respond both with your eyes and ears and your higher awareness. That's what we mean by "two things at the same time." It's relating with both a personal faculty - sense, thought or feeling, and your impersonal faculty - which is your awareness or knowing faculty, at the same time. One is necessary to check and empower the other.

Again, we're not talking about two personal things at the same time - like eating and reading; we're talking about one personal thing and one impersonal thing - like eating and awareness of eating. Distraction is trying to concentrate on two or more personal things at the same time, and that's the cause of distraction, misperception, error, and diminished performance.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Overcome-Distraction-and-Live-In-Reality&id=9625803

Peace, Commitment, and Empowerment (By Dawn Shuler )

These three words have come up over and over for me this week, and while they may seem like individual and distinct concepts, they are intertwined with each other as well as to me and my business.

Let's start with peace. 

When I think about my top values, peace or peaceful has never reared its head. It's not that I didn't want to feel peaceful; it's just never felt crucial.

Lately, though, especially in the early morning when I have some me time, I've noticed this wonderful feeling in my body, in my core. I breathe better, bigger, fuller, deeper. I put a name to this feeling, and I found it was "peace."

I realized I had been missing that feeling. Sure, life has been hectic, and there's a lot going on, but I was surprised to realize how important peace was needed.

Onto commitment. 

I'm searching for my next coach, as I believe strongly in the power and even necessity of coaches and mentors. Earlier this week, I had a Discovery Call with a coach. We talked about the various avenues of my business and the possible fitness between me and the potential coach. What he told me is that his company works in 90-day blocks, and that in those 90 days, the coachee commits to a certain outcome or goal.

Now, as a smart business owner and a coach myself, I get the power of commitment. But for some reason, in talking with this coach, the way he said it rang differently for me. That idea of committing to one path or one goal for 90 days... and the idea that perhaps I have not been committing the way I think I have been... it's certainly making me go, "Hmmmm... "

Finally, the big one: empowerment. 

There's a situation my husband Mark and I have been dealing with for the last five months, and it looks as if it's finally winding down. Funny enough, in this winding down and really seeing that the end could be near, I've been spiraling and certainly not at peace. (I told you these concepts were related.)

What I realized, and this was freaking huge, was that because this situation was primarily Mark's situation, I couldn't actively do anything about it. I'm affected greatly by it, but I couldn't make phone calls, take action, etc. because other parties can't deal with me. They can only deal with Mark.

I realized that this was the third time in my life that I have felt powerless: my childhood (one long big time), the explosion of my first marriage, and then this one. I was explaining to Mark how bad this was for me, this feeling of powerlessness. I went over to the Emotional Guidance scale from Abraham-Hicks printed out in the office to show him that it was in the lower half (i.e. "bad") of the chart. Well, it's not only in the "out of the vortex" section of the chart, it's at the very bottom of the chart, along with despair, fear, and grief.

Yikes.

I've been embracing that one of the things I do for my clients and people in my programs was to empower them. I just never knew how necessary empowerment was showing up for me. Actually, it's probably more the lack of empowerment that has thrown me for a loop. No one should feel powerless.

So, how are all these related and what do they mean to you? 

Well, first, they're related for me because they all welled up at the same time. If I'm not feeling empowered, then that's affecting my sense of peace and ability to commit. If I'm feeling powerless, how the heck can I commit to something? On the other hand, if I can take back my power (or at least recognize how this temporary situation made me feel powerless), I will be at more peace. If I continue to choose peace, I'm going to be better able to commit, take action, make choices, and serve the world.

Next, onto you... how do peace, commitment, and empowerment show up in your life? Are you at peace? Do you want to be? Are you committing full out, or just playing it safe? Are there places you feel powerless? Where can you take back your power?

Third, what concepts are showing up for you in your life? What do they mean to you? What messages are they trying to give you? What action do you need to take?

May you be at peace with all you do.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Peace,-Commitment,-and-Empowerment&id=9601722

I AM Takes You Beyond Your Formed Self - Belief to Your Natural Higher Soul-Self

I'am sure you have heard the expression 'Our eyes are the windows to our soul.' Our soul is the perfect home to our pure and simple Spirit. As you look out from within this perfect world of spirit you will see, through your eyes this natural purity and perfection being reflected into the life you lead and the world you see. This is your real being - your real self-talk and your real self-belief. This really is the words and works of God being expressed through you from the inside out.

Over time the conditioned beliefs cover the surface of the soul and sets up layers of unreal beliefs that come between all we are. These man-made, and at times mad-mans beliefs are learned and are un-natural. They stem from our upbringing, our past experiences and our genetic hand-me-downs. The condition and quality of these beliefs will determine the quality of our thoughts, feelings, our self-talk, our self-belief, the life we live, and the world we see.

Many of these beliefs are rooted in fear and are well past their use-by-date. When these beliefs take hold, we lose touch with, and we forget who we are and our soul's purpose and potential. As we look outward from our soul we see through the layers of our belief system which cover our soul and we think what we see in our self, others, our life and our world is real. And as we believe so it becomes.

I AM the way

I AM are the most important and powerful words in the dictionary and what ever we attach to them we empower. The question is "Are you using these words to raise your self up or to put your self down?"

I AM is the highest non form of communication available to man-kind and when realised overcomes and becomes the highest form of communication through mans kindness.

Imagine I AM as the 'password' giving you access to your soul's mind and the gate-way to your real self. Every time you think or say the word I AM it sends a vibration out to your soul where it will find a match in words and works. In a so-called perfect world the response from your soul will be in the form of inspired and up-lifting communication, feelings and actions.

If, on the other hand, what can rise up if our 'home' is less in less than perfect condition, are the words and works of your lower conditioned self beliefs and self talk. As you are willing to see this negativity in a positive light, you will see it clearly as a way for you to raise your self up and you will see clearly beyond the errors of your thinking to your true and honest Self-Knowing. We call this natural energy faith or love. And as you remember 'only love is real' you can take your faith away from fear and stick it back together with love, where it belongs.

Using I AM

Begin by becoming very aware of how you are currently using I AM. Remember saying or declaring things like I am sick and tired, fed up, broke, too fat, too thin, etc. acts as a curse upon your self. This is the worse form of self-abuse you can impose upon your self. So stop it, now. I am not suggesting that you avoid or deny how you feel. I suggest that you change your language to I do tired, I do fed up, I do broke, I do anger etc. I know it doesn't make sense and that's perfect because we don't want it to make sense - we don't want it to resonate, do we? We just need for you to express how you feel, be alright with it and move on. Remember, it is not who you really are only what you do. It's a behaviour and you can undo behaviours.

If you find yourself saying those sorts of things you can follow it up by using the I AM words to emphasise how you would really like to feel. I AM is the cure. It may not work straight away or it may not last, initially. However by maintaining faith, I AM will channel through beyond your lower self-talk to your soul and recalls the perfect match from your soul. As it does, those words will become one with the works of your soul - and it is done.

The other way is to simply begin affirming that which you do want as if it is already here. I AM happy, I AM rich, I AM successful, I AM peaceful, I AM safe, I AM loved, I AM accepted and so the list goes on. You can declare something more personal or more specific if you like. The process is the same. Stay very present when you use them and listen to the responses. If there is a negative response you know that you have connected, not with your soul but with your limiting belief system. Don't judge it. This is good because now you know you have new choices. You can choose to keep those limiting beliefs alive or you can trust that as you continue to affirm that which you do want I AM will reach right inside and resurrect your soul's voice and raise you up to reach your highest potential.

You can simply say I AM over and over again. Or you can say I AM - and wait and see what it evokes in you. I found that in time I could use the words I AM, and as I waited I found that what ever was most prominent, either positive or negative, would present its self. Again this is good because it lets you know where you stand. In time, in faith and with ongoing commitment I found that by simply declaring, I AM evoked more and more of all that's good within me naturally and easily without any doubt, interruption or disruption and that goodness became my real and unique expression of life.

And remember to say Thank you and it is done.

http://ezinearticles.com/?I-AM-Takes-You-Beyond-Your-Formed-Self---Belief-to-Your-Natural-Higher-Soul-Self&id=9459580