Creative Inspiration Hit - NOW WHAT?

This morning I was listening to the Accidental Creative Podcast on my commute to work. As will sometimes happen, I found the discussion triggering my creative juices. My mind went into over-drive with thoughts and ideas that were flowing faster than my mind could process them. At some point, I had to push the pause button and stop the podcast... it felt like my head was going to explode. I am not the most patient individual. And here I was with these raw ideas that I wanted to act upon immediately. Instead, I was stuck in stop-and-go traffic on route 3.

This is not an uncommon occurrence for me. I suspect it is not for many others, as well. An idea hits and you feel like, if you don't act upon it immediately, it will be lost in the stratosphere for ever... never to be seen again. However, situations (like being stuck in a car) don't often allows for these ideas to be carried out when they hit.

I have also noticed an other interesting phenomenon. The longer I think about an idea, the less the chance I will act upon it. Sometimes, this is because I realize that the idea was just crap, and I am thankful I didn't waste my time on it. But, often there is a level of hesitation due to fear of failure. Other times, I get intimidated by the level of effort an idea requires to see through to fruition. However, more often than not, I don't follow an idea through because I gradually lose the enthusiasm I originally had for that project. Over time, I came to realize that I wasn't acting on many perfectly sound ideas and sought to develop an easy way to rectify this.

So, what did I do this morning when my head was about to explode? I love http://www.evernote.com ability to record notes. In fact, I have the Evernote Widget prominent on my smartphone so I can record with little effort. This morning, I performed a brain dump recording that kept going until I had nothing else to say (i.e. the exploding brain sensation subsided). I also keep a journal with me at all times (I like unlined pages... lines make me feel restricted). In this journal, among other things, is where I keep a permanent record of my raw ideas. So, as soon as I got into work, I replayed my recording and put it to paper in a slightly more cohesive format (yet, by no means finalized). At a later time, if I decide the idea is a good one, I will develop this idea even further on paper.

Here's what I have discovered. By having my ideas on paper, I am more likely to act upon the ones that are worth seeing through. In many cases, much of the hard work has already been done. I find that the physical tasks associated with an idea often feel less intimidating when already thought out and on paper. Also, because this is a multi-process step, that is initiated when I am feeling inspired and continued in smaller chunks, there is less chance of feeling overwhelmed (the "eat an elephant one bite at a time" philosophy).

Here are the key points:

1) When creative inspiration hits, perform a brain-dump as soon as possible. Don't stop until you have exhausted all points.

2) Don't worry about quality at this stage. Just get it on paper

3) Refine your idea on paper. It doesn't have to be perfect, just cohesive enough to make sense later

4) Go back and review your ideas. Decide which ones are worthy and which are not

5) Follow-through with the worthy ideas.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Creative-Inspiration-Hit---NOW-WHAT?&id=8881727

Avoid These Challenges To Creativity And Let Yourself Shine

Imagination is the ability making something brand-new or to develop new ideas. Developing more creativity can benefit your career, relationships, and pastimes. Kids like to be innovative, however lots of adults have less motivation to be creative. There are likewise many obstacles to creativity.

Stack the deck in your favor by dealing wisely with most the typical barriers to creativity:

1. Worry of ridicule. As they state, absolutely nothing ventured, absolutely nothing gained. No matter what you do, someone will criticize you for it. Learn how to ignore the naysayers and let your creativity shine.

2. Fear of failure. It can be the worry of losing money or valuable time. Or it can be an easy worry of failure. You're tough enough to manage it. You've already failed countless times in one way or another and you've survived. What would take place if you did fail?

3. Disturbances. Time and space stimulate the creative flow. It's more challenging to come up with a fantastic idea if your kids are calling your name or your phone is chirping at you every 30 seconds. Arrange your creative time to reduce as many disruptions as possible. Early in the morning and later at night can be the best alternatives for many.

4. Distractions. A distraction is an interruption you provide yourself. How do you typically lose time? Get rid of those interruptions from your immediate environment. Put your cell phone on mute and throw it in the drawer. Switch off the TV. Focus 100% on your innovative activity. Interruptions are manageable. Have the self-control to manage them properly.

5. Past experiences. Your previous experiences influence your present thinking and beliefs. Attempt to open your mind to all the possibilities. Just because something didn't work out as you planned in the past does not suggest it cannot work today. Let go of the past and free your creative mind.

6. Stopping prematurely. When a good idea is found, it's common to stop trying to find a much better option. Are you sure you've chosen the best color for your painting? The ideal word for your novel? The best idea for making $10 million?

When you have found a good idea, keep searching for an even much better one.

7. Tension. Tension and creativity seldom go hand in hand. Whether it's the tension of. being tired, lacking time, financial concerns, or health problems, creativity is more challenging when you're tense. Find time to relax and decompress before beginning a session of creativity. Your results will be greatly enhanced.

8. Negative moods. It's not simply stress. Anger, jealousy, fear, impatience, despair, or hopelessness can likewise be barriers to creativity. Studies have shown that creativity has the tendency to peak while experiencing strong, favorable moods.

Do whatever is needed to increase your mood prior to accessing your creativity. Take a walk, call a buddy, or listen to uplifting music. What makes you feel better when you're in a bad mood?

9. Too many choices. It can actually be simpler to discover your innovative streak if you restrict your options. Attempt to make a painting with only three colors. Compose a brief story with only 300 words. Or compose a tune with only a few chords. Having a lot of options can be a challenge in itself. Try limiting your alternatives if you're stuck.

If you cannot get your creative juices flowing, maybe something is getting in the way. Your creativity is a substantial part of your uniqueness. Avoid the common challenges to creativity and reveal to the world what you have to provide. To truly enhance your creativity, try using it often. And begin today!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Avoid-These-Challenges-To-Creativity-And-Let-Yourself-Shine&id=9452724

The Death Of Creative Progress

You've completed all the necessary groundwork so that unique idea which has been bouncing around inside your head can finally take off and... five, six months later... you are still sitting in front of the computer with your head full of reasons why your creation hasn't been given life. We've all experienced this procrastination and fear in varying degrees. Some people are able to overcome it quickly whilst others are ensnared so much they get overwhelmed. It is easy to get overly focused on results, expectations of perfection or fear of competition to cloud our judgement. In the fourteen years or so that I have been involved with Internet Marketing, undoubtedly this, the biggest emotional barrier to successful online entrepreneurship I have witnessed could be defined as a Creative Paralysis. This fear of failure and rejection is an issue that most business novices have experienced. It cocoons our deepest desires with indecision, preventing us from being vulnerable but at the same time assuring us that it is convenient to remain in a situation that fills us with loathing, rather than take the risk of stepping outside our comfort zone.

Creative paralysis or fear of failure. The words pierce the heart of any creative minded business person. Everyone with talent has experienced doubt and self-doubt every time anxiety, feelings of inadequacy and fear of rejection block creative progress. It's the harrowing sense that, no matter how hard you try, you're just going to mess things up again. This fear of failure is so wrong, since one of the principal actions of learning anything is through trial and error. Without experiencing mistakes and learning from them, we genuinely limit not only our individual experiences but also our personal growth.

We need to re-define failure as a normal part of risk-taking. When it happens, we should realize it's telling us to try a different approach, ask more appropriate questions from better qualified people. Failure is such an obvious part of learning that when failure happens, it should be seen as an opportunity for growth as well as a signal that it is now time to seek new methods and ideas to solve any problems. If this fear is stopping you from your goal and from what you really want to do, please, please change your concept of failure. Let go of the way you see failure and begin to envision your failures as important learning opportunities on the way to your eventual success. In other words, behold every failure as a step forward!

Your ONLY course of action to overcome the fear of failure is to keep on doing whatever it is you are trying to do, including any selective quality mentoring, until you achieve it. Realise that you are only human and however your work turns out, it will always have room for improvement, it will not be the epitome of infallible perfection. Unfortunately, when we are in this 'fear mode', we think we have to be absolutely fool-proof with our work but the problem with perfectionism is that nothing we produce will appear to be quite good enough. After all, we are only human, nothing we do will be perfect. Ask yourself, who defines perfection anyway and more to the point, who defines failure, but other hopelessly flawed humans not unlike ourselves.

Now let's look at how we can use fear of failure positively and start taking some risks. We have to understand that life itself is a risk and everything we do in life is a risk. Even the simple tasks like 'driving a vehicle'... you may be involved in an accident, or 'eating'... you could choke to death on a fish-bone, involve a degree of risk. However, despite the risks, we still elect to do what we wish to do in life. Understand that everything in life is determined how we handle fear of failure.

The bottom line is that you will require a rock solid positive attitude to push aside any feelings of fear brought on by previous poor performances. You must stand up to your fear and recognize that probably the worst thing that can ever happen to you is not failing, but failing to try again and again after you have failed. Unless you let go of these fears, you will not be able to accomplish your desired goals in life as the negative mind set you have already created lowers your possibilities. There is no such thing as failure if you keep on trying until you achieve your goal. Dismiss the word 'failure' from your vocabulary and replace 'failure' with 'success'.

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Death-Of-Creative-Progress&id=8631940

Decisive Plans That Bring You Closer To Your Goals

If you don't let yourself be distracted, you make the required career changes. No longer sitting back, you're motivated to turn long-cherished plans into a promising and beneficial period for your career. If you focus on putting in place a decisive plan that brings you closer to your aims, little stands in your way.

Effective goal setting let you achieve what you want in life. However, many of us abandon our goals before we accomplish them because of lack of confidence, not having a workable plan, being unrealistic, fear of failure, and putting too much stress on ourselves to accomplish them.

In reality, we need to establish what really want to happen in our lives. If we set our mindset that we really deserve success, anything is possible. We just need to believe that we can do whatever we set our mind to. We need to believe that we can do what we set out to do and that we possess the talents and abilities for doing it. Unless we start with this crucial premise, our efforts will be thwarted and we will fall short of accomplishing what we want.

One of the biggest problems people have in setting goals effectively is not knowing what they really want. The lack of a clear idea makes it difficult to proceed. The one thing all successful people have in common is that they are extremely focused and intensely goal-oriented. Every time they set something on their minds, can really be realized through positive mental attitude.

Try to chunk down you goals into little bits because if you want to achieve all at once, you might find it daunting and overwhelming, so it's best to organize and prioritize your goals. Devise a workable plan for each goal you want to accomplish. Since careers take a lot of time and effort to establish, then, planning and organizing your moves makes good sense.

Review and update developmental goals on a regular basis to ensure they are still relevant to you and keeps you on track and taking the appropriate steps and actions. If some of your strategies aren't working, fine tune them, or devise new ones. Anticipate distractions and obstacles along the way. Plan ahead of time what you need to do to overcome them and if it's not working, try to revise and adjust your priorities.

Staying focused and motivated is one of the toughest things to do when setting goals. It is natural to fall every now and then but it is important to get back on track as soon as possible. Make it a habit to review your goals periodically to stay on track.

Effective goal setting allows us to achieve whatever we aspire in life. Without it we would drift aimlessly and waste valuable time and effort in pursuits that lead nowhere. So, what are you waiting for? So start now! Decide which among your goals are most significant to you and devise a plan to accomplish them.

Goals are what take us forward in life. t's very important that we realize the significance and importance of decisive plans that bring us closer to our goals.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Decisive-Plans-That-Bring-You-Closer-To-Your-Goals&id=9864265

Depression and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Depression hurts. When a person feels deep sadness from loss of a job, a loved one, or when stressful situations occur such as divorce, financial burdens, or troubles at home, life takes on a completely new meaning. When a person feels despair, they will often start feeling hopelessness, misery, and helpless.

Depression is a mental state that causes a person to create negative ideas about themselves and others. People, who feel depressed may feel like they have failed everyone, feel as though others are judging them, and they may say, "I am a failure. I am hopeless. I am inadequate. I am helpless."

The truth is there is always hope. For the most part, any common problem can be resolved. Of course, death is a natural occurrence that happens to us all at one point in our life, and every one of us will experience the loss of a loved one at some point in our lifetime. It is a difficult reality to accept; yet we all must face it at some point or another. It will happen and the best way to deal with grief from loss of a loved one is to learn how to accept the loss.

Divorce hurts. People, who spent a good deal of time with someone close to them, may blame themselves when things go wrong. This feeling of blame, guilt, and shame lingers for some time and causes depressive symptoms to emerge.

Depressed souls tend to feel shame, guilt, and blame often. This problem creates a negative illusion, leaving the person to feel that no matter what he or she does or says it is never right. The person starts to feel despair and rejected.

The fear of rejection and fear of failure forms for most people who suffer depression. Failure and the notion of being rejected feels like catastrophe and disaster to those who suffer from depression constantly. The pain escalates, the hurt grows deeper and deeper until one day, and the person decides to get help or end his or her problems.

Depression is not only a mental illness it is a very dangerous place for anyone to live in. Those who suffer from chronic depression may entertain suicide thoughts, and in too many instances may act on those thoughts. The overwhelming statistics show us that thousands of people every single day choose death as an escape from depression, and thousands others attempt suicide. Based on these facts, we need to learn to take depression serious and help those who are struggling with depression the best we know how.

One of the best solutions is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a set of procedures that involves helping a person come back to the here and now, and helping the person find solutions to resolve problems including emotional conflicting problems resulting from death, divorce, finances, and so forth. Bringing the person back to reality can help him or her come to term with painful emotions that keep the person feeling stuck. Feeling depressed is no place to be, but if you go there, there is always hope!

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the best methods of therapy to help those overcome depression. Studies show that when treated with Cognitive Therapy, depressed souls can heal!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Depression-and-Cognitive-Behavioral-Therapy&id=7707069

Message From the Universe: Be Ready to Shine Like a Star

"Here are 3 sure-fire steps that will take you from wishing upon a star to being one:

Imagine your dreams as if they already exist.

Speak as if they already exist.

And act as if they already exist.

And before long, you'll be hearing pretty much the same thing from virtually all of your old friends, "Wow, I dig your independence, wealth, health and happiness! How did that happen so fast? You have to write a book! Must be nice... "

I know friends, 

The Universe"

There are not many who are ready to venture into the unknown. It requires someone with guts, with no fear of failure, a risk taker, a go-getter. We all have ambitions but many are afraid to take actions and bring their dreams to reality. In return, we become complacent with our lives and think it is the best we can do. Many listen to the nay-sayers, the people that tell you it is IMPOSSIBLE to do what you are thinking, to not waste your time, to not bother because of the elements of risk. They want you to abandon your dreams, your goals because they are to afraid of your success. They do not want to open the Fortune 500 magazine and see your face on the front page, that might destroy their ego. So what is the best solution? Keep your mouth SHUT and don't say a word about your dreams and avoid looking for acknowledgement with anything you do because IT WON'T HAPPEN. On the contrary, you will have people trying to put stick in your wheels so you do not move forward. What is the point to disclose anything until IT HAPPENS. Let them see AFTER the fact that you have reached the summit. Just look at it this way: Do you think the Great White Shark sends a memo to the seal that he will come and attack from below and to WATCH OUT? No, he just DOES it. Do not give ammunition for them to work against you. Just go with your feelings and move forward no matter what.

These same nay-sayers, who would have stopped you in your track will suddenly become your best friends AFTER you have reached fortune and glory. These same nay-sayers will wonder how you did it, and some would ask you why didn't you share your dreams with them, they would tell you: "I could have helped you and put you in contact with him or her to make things happen". Guess what? YOU made it happen with NO ONES help. Be proud, feel accomplished and be smart with your new found money. As the Great White sharks attacks his prey, these same nay-sayers will do the same with you. You should definitely help people in NEED, but NOT the ones who NEED you now because of your fortune and glory.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Be-Ready-to-Shine-Like-a-Star&id=9622929

The Fear Of Failure Phobia Overcome By Facing Fear Head On

Dealing with fear of failure is the modern-day bubonic plague, contaminating millions upon millions of people. Whatever the cause, a vaccine is readily available for dealing with fear of failure.

The Course in Miracles teaches us, "Bringing the ego to God is but to bring error to truth, where it stands corrected because it is the opposite of what it meets.

One excellent example can be discovered in sports, when we fear losing (or stopping working).

Why should we fear losing if it occurs to everybody?

Not only is the panic and anxiety of failure a waste of time-it likewise puts you in a reactive, more passive mode of competing.

Begin determining your most significant fears perhaps in a sport, in competition, or relationships, or just life in general.

These are the fears that hold you back the most. Fear of failure, fear of success, worry of injury, fear of God, fear of hell and all the other seeming threats we allow to penetrate us.

Remember, as the Course in Miracle states, "There is no hell," you only think there is because somebody told you so, and you believed them.

Exactly what are the effects of harboring a few of these fears?

Fear of failure: you will never completely give all of yourself to competitors if you are afraid of losing

Worry of success: you're less likely to win, undoubtedly, if you have actually mixed feelings about being able to deal with success (and the duties that come with it).

Fear of injury:

You're most likely to be hurt, as you will be more tentative.

Fear of risk-taking:

You'll never risk, and therefore, never gain.

Start setting a strategy to begin dealing with fear of failure, and to "face head on" these "untruths". Without a plan, there is no prescription for elimination of these worries.

Here's what I prescribe:

For panic and anxiety of failure: Go out and fail daily. Get used to it, because human beings do stop working, and you are human. You will also learn how to deal with it.

For dealing with fear of failure and of success:

Get directly in your mind that success is an excellent alternative to failure. Actually, it is. Wouldn't you agree?

For fear of injury:

Pull yourself up and start over again as soon as possible after being hurt. The longer you wait, the greater your worry will be.

For worry of risk-taking:

Take risks, but on a big and frequent scale, and in every location of your life. Ask people out on dates.

For dealing with fear of failure move toward the face of fear rather than hiding from it. You will find that the closer you move towards that which you fear, the less afraid of failure you will be.

Shifting toward your fears when panic and anxiety is lurking indicates doing that which you hate/detest/fear/ loathe/don' t wish to do, and doing that thing initially, before all else.

The key to dealing with fear of failure and beating back our illogical and disabling worries is to advance, not halt, to them at every possibility.

By doing so, you will show to yourself how silly those fears are right up front, as they offer no inner or intrinsic value to who and what you are.

Course in Miracles gives us this lesson by asking, "How long can contradiction stand when its impossible nature is clearly revealed."

Remember, dealing with fear of failure instead of hiding from those fears keeps you advancing toward achieving your goals and objectives.

Fear of failure, fear of imperfection, fear of success, fear of being hurt in a relationship, the panic and anxiety of risk taking can be beat.

The less frightening those fears are when you begin dealing with fear of failure by staring right into the teeth of fear.

To facing fear and watching it fade away!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Fear-Of-Failure-Phobia-Overcome-By-Facing-Fear-Head-On&id=9839875

Dealing With Fear Of Failure And Failure Anxiety

This can be a tremendous boost from the experience and one of the more reliable methods to let go of this fear. Think about the following questions as they can supply the responses in you might have to overcoming fear of failure:

- How could you prevent the error from happening?

- Where did you find mistakes?

- Where can I make enhancements?

In terms of conquering fear, it is essential that you learn ways to challenge and overcome them.

Otherwise, you could wind up duplicating the same mistake, or worse, that your fear of failure might prevent you from following your goals and objectives.

Individuals want success and yet only those who are brave enough to begin overcoming fear of failure are the ones able to rise above the adversities that get in the way, and attain whatever objectives they have actually set for themselves.

There are likewise circumstances wherein the failure anxiety is so immense that people tend to limit themselves to the point of not attempting for fear of failing.

That being said, again, unless you are able to start dealing with fear of fear of failure, you are unable to reach your full potential and have the outcome you truly desire.

Fear of failure prevails for obvious factors.

People want success and yet only those who are brave enough to begin overcoming fear of failure are the ones able to rise above their fears and attain whatever goals and objectives they have actually set for themselves.

For those who were conquered with this fear, they are prevented from realizing and reaching their full potential.

The most devastating element required for overcoming fear of failure is one's inability to take criticism or feedback well.

Rather, they have the tendency to magnify the errors they have developed along the journey until it overtakes their mind such that it is too tough to let go of them.

There are also instances in which being afraid of failure is so tremendous that people tend to limit themselves to the point of not pursuing their dreams and goals.

Why is overcoming fear of failure so important? By dealing with fear of failure you'll discover that you absolutely can reach your full potential.

The Course in Miracles states, "Be not be afraid, my child, but let your world be gently lit by miracles."

You are able to supply yourself more flexibility to do exactly what you need to do and be successful at it once you are brave enough to do something about this failure anxiety.

Here are some basic ways to overcome fear of failure:

Do something about overcoming fear of failure

Fear of failure immobilizes you.

You end up being so finished up with the anxiety fear that you will ultimately stop working that you rather not try. Make that definitive action to conquering your fear.

The Course in Miracles teaches, "Refuse to be part of fearful dreams whatever form they take, for you will lose identity in them."

Discover Alternatives

There are a number of elements that contribute as to why you stop working on prospering at doing something.

The most crucial step you can take is never to associate your failure anxiety with yourself.

To learning from failure!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dealing-With-Fear-Of-Failure-And-Failure-Anxiety&id=9837376

Ways To Overcome Anxiety And Get The Life You Want

The answer is: Ways to overcome anxiety and fear! Yes, people live every day in worry and fear.

Fear of losing their wealth, fear of losing family and loved ones, fear and worry of making the wrong decisions, fear of being themselves, worry of maturing, worry of making decisions and choices.

The list continues, and is why there is need to begin conquering anxiety.

The leading cause of people not fulfilling their dreams is NOT the fear of failure - it's the fear of success!

The fear of living life to the fullest might be holding you back, and is why you must begin to get rid of fear and anxiety.

Most people live their lives in the grip of this fear and they aren't even aware that it has control over them!

The worry and fear is the one thing that can turn your monetary flexibility, caring relationships, and a substantial and satisfying life into a pattern of habits consisting of procrastination, self-sabotage and other ego-based wrong-minded practices.

The Course in Miracles states, "The ego makes no attempt to understand this, and it is clearly not understandable, but the ego does make every attempt to demonstrate it, and this it does constantly."

The ego has a foundation built of worry and fear.

Fear and worry is the control problem in your life today. The two concerns you have to get rid of fear and anxiety are:

- Which fear has the most control over your behavior?

- Is it the fear of failure, the worry of rejection, fear of relationships, the fear of success, or is it all of them?

Whatever it is, fear does NOT want you to face it!

The Course in Miracles further states, "You must recognize that the last thing the ego wishes you to realize is that you are afraid of it."

How do I interrupt ego-based wrong-minded habits that I have developed as a means of security from this fear?

How do I get rid of fear and anxiety going on within me?

When it comes to ways to overcome anxiety and fear, these are the two most significant concerns. If you can address these two concerns, your life will permanently change!

The reality of worry and fear is that it is human, and human is ego, and is a part of life while in this world. Some fear is even healthy, which we may call, right-minded!

These are: fear of falling, fear of violent noises, and worry and fear of abandonment.

Consider that; it is fear that pumps endorphins and adrenaline through your heart making you leave from a scenario that is truly, truly seriously risky.

Many times it is our desire to get rid of fear and anxiety that is holding us back from our dreams when we look to God and ask for help.

Those were probably times of extreme fear.

Why do people let fear control their lives, actions and beliefs? The response is the difference in between responding to fear and acting in worry.

Children normally respond intuitively to fear, which is suitable at this age.

The majority of grownups do not make the distinction in how to get rid of fear and anxiety, as when they were a child, and acting with their intellect when handling fear.

Individuals react intuitively to fear by either rejecting it or fleeing from it.

Yes, a life of purpose, and to get the life you want to live.

To a life of success!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Ways-To-Overcome-Anxiety-And-Get-The-Life-You-Want&id=9840418

Five Steps To Move Toward Your Dreams

A few years ago, I watched the movie CASTAWAY starring Tom Hanks. The movie was about a man named Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems engineer whose ruled-by-the-clock existence abruptly ended when a harrowing plane crash left him isolated on a remote Island, struggling to survive. It took Chuck four years to realize no one was coming to rescue him. One day he decided to build a boat and take a risk to get off the Island. It was do or die time for him. He realized if he remained on that Island he would eventually die. He also knew if he tried to leave, he could risk dying at sea. He took a chance. He decided to risk his life before he remained stranded.

Many of us have been castaway to an Island that we do not want to remain on. Yet, we are too afraid to leave because we do not know if we will succeed. Maybe that Island is a dead end job, a toxic relationship, friendship or habit.

For me, it was becoming an author. For years I wrote books, poems, and short stories, then I would let them collect dust. It was only after I recovered from an illness that I decided, like Chuck Noland, it was time to get off my Island.

Maybe you have a dream you want to fulfil but everyone is telling you that you're not qualified. Maybe you want to submit a manuscript to a publisher, go back to school, or start a business, but fear of failure, rejection, and criticism are impeding you. Whatever it may be, you can do it!

Here are five steps to get started.

1. First, realize that no one is coming to rescue you. If you want to achieve anything, YOU, will have to put in the hard work. The daydream that something or someone will save you from the hard work, or rescue you from your current situation is just that-a dream. No one can get you off of your island, but you.

2. Sketch out your boat. Write down your dreams. Outline what you need to do to achieve your goals.The purpose of this is to have a vision of what it is you want to do and achieve.

3. Gather your supplies and start building your boat. Place your goals in short and long term categories. Doing so will help you not to become overwhelmed, and not take on things that may be unrealistic for now. Remember, rarely does things happen overnight. Sometimes, it's the thousands of tiny baby steps that will get you to the bigger goal. It is good to start small and conquer the short term goals. Short term goals are the things you can do now to begin pursuing your dream. If you feel clueless, do some research and get the facts. Do whatever you have to do in order to learn. Maybe you can read a book on something you are interested in. Maybe there is a class you can take. Maybe you can walk a half mile. Maybe you can write a chapter of a manuscript. Whatever, you decide- start small.

4. Continue to work on and perfect your boat. If you do not reach goals, don't give up and don't quit. Continue to revise your goals and move toward them.MOST IMPORTANTLY, lose the naysayers and find mentors and people who support you.

5. Use others success as motivation and inspiration, but never copy someone else. Copying someone else's brand is like taking a medicine that wasn't prescribe for you and expecting it to cure you. You have to follow your own authentic path and be who you are. You need to find your own voice. Being who you are is what brands you and makes you different.

Remember, the only failure is not trying at all. So what are you waiting on? Start building your boat today. A boat is your plans, goals, and steps you will take to get there. You have everything within you to get off of your Island and succeed!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Five-Steps-To-Move-Toward-Your-Dreams&id=9530478

Fear of Failure Shouldn't Stop You

You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” - Johnny Cash

How Negative Thoughts Keep Us From Going After Our Dreams and Some Tools to Silence Them

Negative thoughts can come in many different formats:

1. Fear of failure.

This is probably the most common negative thought. It's the fear of giving it a shot and falling flat on your face. I mean, seriously how embarrassing? You know what; you need to get a grip. If every big thinker, entrepreneur and inventor was afraid of failure we would live in a pretty crap world. Those that take the biggest risks often gain the biggest rewards. So what if you screw up a few times on the way. Look back to the lives of some of the world's most famous innovators. Take for instance Steve jobs or Richard Branson, both household names and big hitters in the business world. They screwed up massively on the road to success. Look at the impact they had.

Don't become crippled by the fear. Look it straight in the eye and turn it into a positive. That fear can become adrenaline and keep you on your toes. It can keep the momentum going when your drive and ambition is flagging. Look fear of failure in the face and tell it where to go. You won't look back. Guaranteed.

2. Fear of success.

Not so common, but this is a true concept. Sticking to the routine and being the same as everyone else is easy. Moaning with mates is normal. Sitting around in the pub and talking about your big business plan is common. But imagine being successful and your business plan going to the next level. That would mean serious time and commitment, maybe quitting your full time job. This isn't your side hustle.

Taking plans to the next level can often mean a leap of faith, a leap into the unknown. People like to whine but they often don't like the reality of change. Having a monthly salary and a pension is safe. Start having to work for your own income or having others rely on you for their pay check is certainly not easy. Be brave and make the jump. Don't live with regrets.

3. Fear of what others think.

What others think can have such a huge impact on our mind sets and decisions. Learn to walk your own road. Perhaps your parents, partner or mates think your idea is strange or stupid? Perhaps you don't even want to share it with anyone. Those closest to you will care about you greatly. However, they may not have your best interests at heart. They may think a stable 9-5 job and saving for a mortgage is the ultimate goal. Yes that is their dream, and don't get me wrong it's a great goal to have, but life is too bloody short to live your life according to the expectations of others. We don't want to encourage anyone to start major family feuds but this is your dream. Don't be embarrassed if you have an awesome idea-tell the world.

These are just a few examples of the types of negative thoughts that can occur. There are a ton of other negative thoughts, lack of self confidence, fear of public speaking etc-the list is endless. We have some amazing tips to help you overcome those negatives beliefs so you can start moving forward with your goals today.

1. Visualise the success to become motivated and excited.

Visualisation is a great tool for getting ahead. Sometimes it can be impossible to see where you want to be. Take some time to visualise where you want to see yourself. Is it finishing education and getting a sought after post graduation job? Perhaps it's quitting the workplace and going freelance? It maybe running your own empire and having one hundred staff on the payroll? Whatever the dream is be sure to visualise yourself on the road to success and when you arrive. It's an exceptionally powerful tool. Don't underestimate it.

2. Read up on inspirational figures.

Who inspires you? Have you any individuals you really aspire to be like? We love a good business autobiography. Reading up on the lives and often the struggles of inspirational figures can be a serious source of motivation. You won't have to follow their path to the top, but seeing their route can help you on yours.

3. Block out negativity and jealousy by choosing not to listen.

You have decided where you want to be. Don't let the narrow mindedness and jealousy of others derail you. Human beings are simple creatures. They are self absorbed and often jealous. Be firm in your beliefs and attack your goals 100%.

4. Seek out positive influences.

This could be friends, family or an online community. Hey it might even be an inspirational Instagram account. I mean sometimes it's impossible not to be motivated by those quotes! Now you have blocked the negativity it is time to seek out the positivity. Print out an inspiring quote and hang it on the wall. Read motivational blogs and books. Listen to some podcasts and watch some YouTube videos There is an endless selection of positive material out there. Not all of it will influence you. Even if one small suggestion resonates with you and makes an impact then it's worth it. What are you waiting for?

5. Write down your goals and check in regularly with them.

#goals- probably one over the most overused hashtags on the planet! But hey, you know it makes sense. Goals are where it's at. If you have a vague goal in your mind floating around, how do you expect it to come into play? Here's the deal- it won't. It will be like those endless to do lists, plans to lose 20 kilos or run that marathon. That stuff isn't ever getting done. If you're serious about this you need to treat it with the respect it deserves. Take a notebook and write down your goals. Plan a realistic way to get there. Now don't just shove the book under the bed. Check in. Regularly. We mean weekly, fortnightly, whatever. Hold yourself accountable. What small steps have you taken to get a step closer to your goals? This tool is a great reality check and push to get you into action. Did you know that how you effectively manage and smash your goals is different for each person depending on your personality.

We don't like being different. Tall Poppy Syndrome, the fear of standing out is all too common. It's ridiculous; don't be ashamed of being different, being passionate and being inspired. Don't allow yourself to be undermined by others and their opinions.

Accept that those that wish to get ahead often take risks. The rewards will be epic. Push those negative thoughts out of your mind and keep pushing forward.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Negative-Thoughts-Keep-Us-From-Going-After-Our-Dreams-and-Some-Tools-to-Silence-Them&id=9407885

5 Tools to Get Over Your Fear of Failure

Everyone can relate to the fear of failure at some point in his or her life. When a positive trait like achievement becomes too strong in someone's life, its on the way to becoming a major handicap. Often time's we view failure as more of a bigger story we tell ourselves "I am not good enough" " I will never become a successful entrepreneur" "My ex spouse was right- I'll never make it on my own-I am a loser." However, we have to remind ourselves it is just that-a story. We have to reframe our minds and turn failures as something positive and something we can learn from. It's important to not turn to external activities (drinking, drugs, eating etc ) to avoid your fear of failure and instead create more positive ways to deal with it.

Here are 5 Tools to Get Over Your Fear of Failure:

1. Talking it Out

It is important to face your fears and not suppress them by having someone you can trust to discuss your discomforts or shortcomings. By having someone to talk to about your fears it can better frame the situation by objectively looking at it from afar and realizing that the big problem was not so big after all. By talking with someone its also important to not dwell on your fears and an opportunity to strategize how you can break down the tasks into smaller pieces to not make it look so daunting and motivate you to face your fears.

2. Meditation

Meditation is an excellent way to reduce fears of failure. As you begin practice you begin to notice patterns of fear arise and the hold they have on you. With practice you can recognize these thoughts as just that-thoughts-and not to become attached to them. You'll no longer find your subconscious fear or resentment running your life from beneath your awareness. Through meditation, as you train yourself to not let your emotions control you or to be completely subject to them it will become easier to do this in your life as a whole as well.

3. Surround Yourself with Positivity

Another tool to help you with your fear of failure is to surround yourself with positivity. Getting rid of toxic people in your life who only dwell on why something will and cannot be done is not very motivating and puts additional fears into your mind. Also, do not read negative media often. Sure it is important to keep up with world events but constantly listening to the traffic accident on the highway or the latest terrorist attack is stifling in your attempt to move forward in your own personal goals. Your physical surroundings are key as well. If you work from home and hate the colour of your walls, do not get enough sunlight and are not energized by your atmosphere that can make things worse. Surround yourself with pictures, positive affirmations, and anything else that generally makes you feel good to improve your mindset and attitude towards your goals.

4. Failing More Leads to Success

Yes that's right-failing more leads to success! Persistence is key. Successful people do not give up after suffering a defeat. Even Malcolm Gladwell said it takes roughly 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field. Statistics say that most entrepreneurs fail in their first business and that on average they finally succeed on their third business attempt. Failure seems to be the stepping stone to success. Understanding what happened and what you learned from it is the most important aspect of failing and the wisdom you will bring towards your next attempt of success. We all fail, its how quickly you pick yourself up and how long you waste time feeling sorry for yourself that usually determines success.

5. Self Growth

Every time you fail, your fear of failure becomes much smaller, which allows you to take on even bigger challenges. Each failure makes you stronger, bigger, and better. Failure teaches you that a certain approach may not be ideal for a specific situation and there are better approaches. Every mistake is a learning opportunity and a chance to look at your mistakes with a new perspective. Failing is essential in personal development and you simply will never grow as a person if you don't put yourself out there and be willing to try and inevitably make mistakes.

So there you have it folks! Setting yourself up for failure is integral to your success in your personal and professional development. Just remember that failure is a stepping stone to your goals and to not let the failure define you as a person.

http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Tools-to-Get-Over-Your-Fear-of-Failure&id=9348744

Why We Procrastinate - 5 Reasons That You May Not Know

Procrastination is an emotional issue, not a time management issue.

We almost always procrastinate when our logic is overpowered by our emotions.

Logically, we know we should eat healthy food.

Logically, we know we shouldn't check emails first thing in the morning.

Logically, we know we should pursue our passion or start a business.

Logically, we know time is precious and we should say "I love you" while we still can.

But we don't because we let our emotions in the moment override our rational thinking, thus we procrastinate on things that should have been done.

Below are the 5 common reasons why we procrastinate that you should pay attention to.

#1 The task requires effort, it doesn't feel good to do it

As humans, we are hardwired to seek the easy, painless and quick path. Our brain craves for instant gratification.

When things are difficult and require effort, we procrastinate.

When we procrastinate, our brain releases the "feel good hormone" called Dopamine. Dopamine encourages us to continue the current behavior and therefore we keep doing the same activity and avoiding the hard work.

That's why it's easy, addictive and tempting to procrastinate.

#2 The task isn't interesting enough

We are social creatures who love to have fun with others.

To many people, playing World of Warcraft, watching Game of Thrones or immersing in the virtual reality of Pokémon GO are more fun than creating a life-changing 3 day seminar workshop that inspires others to take action.

Thus most people aren't "motivated" to do the work necessary and they are controlled solely by their pleasure-seeking nature.

The truth is while successful people also love to seek pleasure, they delay their short-term gratification and they focus on building their long-term, bigger, better real life pleasure.

#3 We don't feel the importance and urgency of it

When we don't have a big enough "why", we lack the emotional fuel to take action.

When we don't set deadlines with consequences, we feel like we have all the time in the world to "do it tomorrow" until it's too late.

A big enough "why" and a sense of urgency is crucial to make things happen in life.

You lack either one of these, you procrastinate till the last minute.

#4 Fear of Failure/Fear of Success

Strangely enough, fear of failure or success stem from the same thing - Fear of not being loved.

We are afraid that people might laugh at us when we fail.

We are afraid that people might judge us when we succeed.

Either way, we are scared that we will become the loneliest person on the planet and not get loved whenever we do something.

Thus, we try to avoid making mistakes by a procrastination strategy called perfectionism.

Perfectionism can be an attempt to avoid failure. Perfectionism can also be a method to avoid success.

The point is we keep procrastinating so we don't actually create any kinds of results - neither failure nor success. Weird right?

#5 Fear of Uncertainty

Whether you succeed or fail on your endeavor, the final reason why we procrastinate is that we are scared of asking ourselves the question, "What's next?"

We hate being thrown into the unknown. We don't want to feel losing control and not knowing what to do. Thus we try not to reach the end for fear that we might go insane.

Which of the 5 reasons above have you tried to delay making a decision? Which one or more have been your current procrastination strategy to avoid taking action?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-We-Procrastinate---5-Reasons-That-You-May-Not-Know&id=9486230

Letting Go of the Fear of the Future

In the future, there is a true hope. In the future, there is a reflection of the abundance and gratitude of today.

Letting go of the fear of the future means, in general, letting go of most of your fears.

Just think about it: 99% of all of our worries and fears are connected only and exclusively with thoughts about the future:

• What will tomorrow bring us?
• What if it were something highly unpredictable, or even painful?
• Will I be able to handle it?
• Am I ready for that?
• How will I protect my family?
• How will I deal with that?

But, what happens when we let go of all these fears?

What happens when we surrender ourselves to the uncertainty of the future, letting ourselves experience all the feelings that lie behind, and letting them simply go, once and forever?

Can we even do that?

Can Letting Go take us so far?

After several Letting Go meditations related to the uncertainty of the future, some interesting revelations came to me when all the negative emotions behind these fears were surrendered, released, and let go.

The most surprising one was the realization that there is not such a thing as a future.

Any moment of our life we live at is defined by being in a state of a clear presence. We simply can't live in the past or future; we can only live in the present.

So, all we can really be fearful of, is just our presence, as this is the only state that we are actually experiencing. Yes, we can also think of extensions, multiplication or variations of the presence, which are often falsely altered with the word "future", but it is still just another form of the presence.

Now, this is great news.

Why?

Because the good thing about the presence is, that we can shape it and define it exactly as we want to - in any given moment. We can instantly decide if we want to be joyful or fearful right now, if we want to be exuberant or impoverished. We have the power of the full choice about the presence, about the actual, instant moment.

But, because the future is, in fact, just an extension or multiplication (or variation) of the presence, by shaping our presence, we can then immediately shape our future as well:

If we feel true hope today, we already create it for our future too.

If we feel abundance and gratitude today, we already create it for our future as well.

I admit that this concept can be a bit difficult to understand for most of you right now. However, after several letting go of these future related issues, you will start seeing it clearer.. This concept needs to be fully experienced (by letting go of the barriers for this experience) first, in order to be able to absolutely understand it, accept it and take great advantages of it.

So here is letting go process of the fear of the future:

1. In a quiet place, close your eyes and think of any of your recent fears about the future.

2. Start noticing the feelings (as they will start coming up) behind your thoughts.

3. Don't try to label these feelings in any way, rationalize or analyze them. Just let them come out and express themselves.

4. Start surrendering yourself to these feelings slowly, let them express themselves fully all over your body (or any other part where you feel them most intensively). Don't push them back, don't block them or act on them either. Just let them be in their natural way and instead, be an independent observer of them, as if they weren't even yours.

5. After a while, make a decision about letting them go once and forever, and then let them actually go and disappear.

The process above will probably need to be, in the case of many people, repeated during the following days, or even weeks, to start experiencing the new, clear perception of the concept of the future (anxiety about the future is in general quite a strong issue) and to start experiencing how worries about the future begin to vanish.

Remember that, with Letting Go, we can't control the moment of the revelation. All we can do is to let go and then let the revelation come to us in the moment it is ready to come. I can guarantee you, that sooner or later it will come, if we let go and surrender ourselves properly. There is no other way.By letting go and surrendering ourselves, we clear the path ahead of us; we clear the vision, and we only need to wait for our own conscious and unconscious mind to adjust to this new reality. Paradoxically, our own brain is quite often the weakest link in our growth!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Letting-Go-of-the-Fear-of-the-Future&id=9472432

7 Top Causes of Procrastination: Deal With It Efficiently

Procrastination: What does It Mean? 

What is procrastination? What are the top causes of procrastination? Very simply, procrastination means, the action of delaying or postponing something. According to Wikipedia: "Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task which needs to be accomplished. It is the practice of doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones or carrying out less urgent tasks instead of more urgent ones, thus putting off impending tasks to a later time. Sometimes, procrastination takes place until the "last minute" before a deadline. Procrastination can take hold on any aspect of life - putting off cleaning the stove, repairing a leaky roof, seeing a doctor or dentist, submitting a job report or academic assignment or broaching a stressful issue with a partner. Procrastination can lead to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression and self-doubt. So, what are the top causes of procrastination?

Let's proceed with it so that procrastination can be avoided!

7 Top Causes of Procrastination 

Do you know the reasons why you procrastinate? They may be different to those of another person. The reasons for procrastination relate to a feeling, belief and the task at hand. Only when you identify them can you do something about it.

Here are the seven top causes of procrastination:

Distraction: 

Gossip, text messages, Facebook and e-mail are some reasons why people procrastinate. There are even people who get distracted because they find or just feel something is out of place on their desk. The average employee wastes up to 2 hours or more a day on tasks that have nothing to do with work.

Fear of success: 

To be successful comes with a price to pay. This may be longer working hours, new enemies, isolation from family, etc. Basically, you fear of what success will bring and procrastination grasps you.

Fear of failure: 

What would you do if it weren't possible for you to fail? Fear ensures your survival but is also one of the reasons for procrastination. You may think that failing is worse than not even trying. So you protect yourself by putting things off.

Perfectionism: 

Trying to do a perfect task puts a lot of pressure on you, making you feel so stressed that you procrastinate. Maybe parents set expectations that are too high, you are concerned with what others think or you constantly criticize your work. Any situation where you feel evaluated has a chance to be one of the reasons why people procrastinate.

Lack of skills: 

Not knowing how to do a task makes it more difficult than it has to be. By nature, we tend to avoid difficult things and take care of those that are easy. You may have a tough time admitting your skill deficits because you do not want to come across as a good-for-nothing.

Lack of interest: 

Let's say you're not interested in doing a task, at least at the moment. By putting it off, you feel like you are losing nothing of value. However, doing so can result counterproductive. In life, there are times when you have to complete certain tasks you do not like to do.

Lack of rewards: 

Another of the reasons for procrastination is because their efforts are never rewarded. This is not necessarily a responsibility of your boss. Promising yourself to watch that exciting new movie, spend time with friends or some other fun activity can serve you to keep going. Remember that rewards are not only external but also internal, so make sure to give yourself credit for your work.

Are the above the only reasons why people procrastinate? Certainly not, but they are the top causes of procrastination. You can uncover more of them by observing yourself while doing a task.

Life is short. Everyone wants to be succeed in life. But what makes a person's life a success is still a big question. Many attributes are related to success that ranges from physical to mental counts, hard skills to soft skills, hard works, thought-process, dreams, reality, happiness, hardship and what not!

Factors that have an effect on and affect the success in life also vary. In a broader aspect, three things actually determine the ultimate SUCCESS of life:

• Health

• Skills

• Money

BE THE PILOT OF YOUR LIFE

http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Top-Causes-of-Procrastination:-Deal-With-It-Efficiently&id=9509026

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!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Conquering-Your-Fears-One-Day-at-a-Time&id=9503464

Don't Wait for Tomorrow

Don't wait for tomorrow, because tomorrow is promised to no one. Don't let your fears or doubts cause you to procrastinate your dreams away to a land of nowhere. Don't permit your goals to be choked out by the weeds of fear. Don't allow excuses to cause you to shy away from taking action. Here is what I've learned. Procrastination is the mother of all failure. According to my friend and mentor John C. Maxwell, the longer you wait to start something, the less likely you are to ever start or complete it. Fear, which is the cousin of procrastination, is often the culprit when it comes to the reason why many people procrastinate. But fear is a mind-killer. It is like a little evil parasite that eats away at us on the inside. We must learn to face and control our fears, or they will certainly control us. Another cousin of procrastination is the excuse. Excuses are used by people who are usually incapable of completing any task.

Most of us have heard the expression, don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today. I heard the expression many times during my childhood as I was growing up. However, whenever I heard this saying, it was usually in the context of simply not being lazy. Now that I am an adult, for me, this saying has taken on a different meaning. When it comes to stepping out of our comfort zones to reach for our dreams or goals, it's not always a matter of laziness. Is it? Many of us have families, careers and many other things going on in our lives that cause us to put some of the things that we would like to do on the back burners. It's time to change the tide ladies and gentleman. There are so many people out there who have items on their bucket list that they just dismissed because life happens. Well I'm challenging you right now to take the bucket list out and blow the dust off of it. The same way God woke you up this morning when he blasted his breath into your lungs. He did that for a reason. That reason was not for us to be afraid to fulfill our purpose. Forget about the fear of failure! If you fail, so what? You still have the option to try again. According to John Maxwell, "You will never win, if you never begin." Don't wait for tomorrow, because tomorrow is promised to no one.

How would you feel if you get to the end of your life and you realize that you never took the time to chase your true dream? That is truly a sad narrative. Imagine the regret that a person feels when they have the rest of their life to deal with that kind of regret and disappointment. Let's not have that as our testimonies. Let us take control of our destinies and turn our dreams into reality. How do we do that? Make your dream or goal public. Get yourself an accountability partner. Find someone you trust; someone who will hold you accountable. This will put pressure on you to keep working at accomplishing your goal. Also, try saying to yourself, "I will start today," 50 times before you go to bed at night and 50 times again when you wake up in the morning. This will give you a psychological edge that will remind you of what you need to do. It will also keep your goals in the front of your mind. Don't put your dream off another day. Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today. Don't wait! Don't wait for tomorrow, because tomorrow is promised to no one.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dont-Wait-for-Tomorrow&id=9437050