Oh No, I'm Dying!

There is nothing worse than receiving a diagnosis with a terminal illness. The panic that a patient and his/her family may feel is mind blowing. There is a state of heightened anxiety and stress that ensures in the days, weeks and months of a patient's life.

Yet, we will all eventually receive a dire diagnosis from a doctor in our lifetimes if we live long enough. We will all experience this angst and overwhelming urge to scream and recoil into a dark vortex of negative feelings and emotions. But is this really how we want to end our lives?

I would hope not. But it can be very hard not to fall into this negative frame of mind. After all, we are dying. And there is nothing we can do about that, it seems. So, what is there to do? We may as well give up, right? Well, no, you don't have to give up or recoil. In this article, I will show you a few things you can do to feel more in control of your situation.

First, you should try to be in habitual contact with others. It can be especially difficult for you to deal with your situation if you live in isolation. Try to join a support group for people who are in the last stages of life. There is no better feeling than knowing that the individual is not alone in your predicament.

Second, try to deepen your personal relationships with family and friends. Your family will be in shock at your diagnosis. But if you make it a point to talk to them and spend time with them they may not feel as panic-ridden. Thus, it is important for patients to open lines of communication with their family members.

Third, try to do the things that you love as often as possible. Try not to spend time dwelling on the inevitable. But instead, choose one or two things that you love to do and do them every day. This should help to lift your spirits.

Fourth, read books that you always wanted to. Spend time reading and explore topics that you never did. It is never too late to learn new things. This may even give you some new perspective and it will be a great way of moving you into the world of an author for a few hours here and there.

Fifth, try to commune with nature every day. You may want to take a brief walk or just get in your backyard or sit on your patio. Take a tall cool glass of water and just enjoy the surroundings. Listen to the birds. Feel the wind on your skin. Look at the different shades of green in the trees and shrubs.

Sixth, live in the moment as much as possible. All we have is this moment. So, why waste time wondering what will happen. Just focus on right now and making this moment the best that it can be. This should lighten your spirit and allow you to enjoy whatever you are going through on a particular day.

By taking these steps, you will be more than just coping with your terminal illness. You will also be enjoying your life one day at a time and one moment at a time. Because this is all that any of us have for sure-this very moment now.

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Are The Highly Successful Really Superheroes? (By Daniel Brennan)

I spoke to a friend recently, who was struggling with some actions he had been taking that he didn't particularly like. He said he was struggling with X and that put him in a bad frame of mind which led him to feel poorly about himself and he felt like he was in a slow spiral; one which needed intervening. We spoke for a while and came to some conclusions. One line of our conversation struck me, and it is a belief system that many people hold to be true and it is that we compare the worst in ourselves to the best of what we see in others. Read that again... The best of what "we see in others"... As Descartes has pointed out, our main source of knowledge, our senses are often erroneous and therefore must be doubted. Seeing the best in someone therefore should be doubted and critically analyzed as best we can.

Perception or Reality?

The line that stood out to me was "I see you, living your life in America, you've written a book and are having a great time". To which I replied, "we compare the worst in ourselves to the best in other people". Have I been having a great time? Absolutely, but that is immaterial. A great time doesn't always mean happiness. My friend, lets call him Albert (you know his second name but that must be disclosed) was slightly taken aback when I told him, "don't worry, I've been in your position before".

In spring of 2014, I left my golf scholarship behind and moved back to Ireland. Upset, lost and full of B.S, I thought I had everything figured out. I figured, college is only a system and a business which churns out graduates that go into low paying jobs to repay the debt, which they racked up in their 4-6 years in college. I still believe this is the case but I now see through that and realize that the benefits of college are most often not from the college itself but from the people you meet, the places you go and the experiences you have. After moving home I wrote a book, another 'success', which my friend saw in me. Little did he know that when writing the book, I was upset, lost and extremely angry with myself. Later, after writing and publishing the book, which got some recognition from golfers and people I look up to, I started a company, which again was another 'success' in my life. Again, I grew more and more anxious, upset and uneasy with myself. In the summer of 2015, I decided to go back to college and pursue that dream again because I figured I must right the wrongs of my first attempt and I figured that the problem was not me, but the circumstances in which I found myself. Again, from the outside looking in, this probably seemed great and seemed like wow; Daniel is doing well for himself again... but... one month in and FLOP... Major flop. I came home for a few weeks in early October to get my head right which I did. Of course, my first attempt at university stateside had absolutely nothing to do with circumstance but rather a young cocky head on young shoulders led me astray and going back with a slightly altered but still not clear mindset was setting me up for failure yet again. Thankfully, it didn't.

Hmmmmm...

You're now thinking, "well thanks for your life story over the last three years but I really don't care", and I agree. You shouldn't. But there is a lesson in there. As my friend was on the outside looking in; all he saw was success, happiness and a guy who was literally, living his dream. From the inside looking out it was much different. All I saw was a guy who was upset with himself, angry with himself and frustrated with the lack of progress he was making in his life. I saw a guy who was a hindrance to society and someone who probably wouldn't be missed too much if he was no longer here. While this example is trivial, what it points to is absolutely essential in our overall wellbeing.

Seeing Through Your Biases

As we build our perceptions of other people, we often forget that everyone is facing a battle you know nothing about and I believe this is quite evident over the past three years. The media helps build sport stars and celebrities as superheroes and constantly reminds us of the crises our world is in. We are made believe that we are in this whirlwind for the long run and we can't get out and that somehow, the celebrities are immune to any distress or sadness. We are taught to look up to the people we want to be like as if they can do no wrong and we are made believe in an all-powerful, all loving being who can also do no wrong. We are made to believe that our life is set out for us and we have no bearing on the direction or outcome of each and every day. All of these societal biases lead us down a path that make us compare the worst in ourselves to the best we see in others and that is what makes us feel less powerful, more jealous and more insecure. We put our lack of success down to not being the chosen one and we often say we don't have the resources. We have thoughts like, "well if I grew up like him/her, I'd have done even more than they have". But the question is rarely about a lack of resources but a lack of resourcefulness. Although success and happiness should not be determined by achievement, we are made believe that the best at their craft are the happiest and that they live life in a bubble which is all roses and glory. I can't say it isn't as I am not the best at any of my crafts, but the more I learn and listen to other successful people, the more I realize that they are no different to you or me in that they battle with the same self-defeating thoughts as we do.

Nobody Is Perfect!

So how exactly does one deal with this unhealthy comparison? I would recommend being mindful about the fact that everyone is going through a battle that you know nothing about. I would also recommend being grateful as often as possible. Being grateful may sound a little woo woo and I know it will. The reason behind this is because "it can't be that simple" but there is a big difference between simple and easy to do. If, every morning you can write down three things you're grateful for, while trying not to repeat the same things in any three day stretch, you'll soon realize that the world is mostly a beautiful place to live in and we are simply looking in the wrong places for the wrong things and finding the wrong answers. If you continue to look toward the right things i.e. gratitude, you'll begin to notice more thing to be grateful for and you will see through your perceptual biases.

Stay hungry, stay humble.

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To My Way Of Thinking, We Have To Make It Worth It

In the book by George I. Gurdjieff that goes by the title, "Life Is Real, Only Then, When 'I Am'", he ends it on a tangent when he writes about the opposing forces to an honest frame of mind or genuinely realistic viewpoint about life, and I do see why. To my way of thinking, we have to make our lives worth it ourselves, and nobody else outside of ourselves can do it for us. So, in reality, we must be present to ourselves at our deepest and shallowest levels, that is at the very least what the ending of that book tells me. At the very most, I realize that if I am going to do anything right really, I must do it the way I genuinely need and want it done, starting within myself.

Thought is a force within us, sure. We must use it to do anything worthwhile, sure. But, how many of us react or judge out of habit without too much consciousness? Sometimes too many of us. The most valuable thing in existence is conscious thought that actively works, then, otherwise we may as well be like the automatically and instinctively reacting animals in the field ruled by nature without the benefit of consciousness. I know, that seems a little extreme, but, if we want to call ourselves conscious souls, we must act like conscious souls, then be conscious souls, in that order. This is what a genuinely functional reality comes down to. Without that, we are not much, are we?

So, when I think of my reality, I do not think of the best or the worst for the most part, I just think of what is and work with it to make it the best without reactive judgement. Sure, I still have my little quirks, imperfections and flaws, but for the most part, I look at things this way for I genuinely have in my mind, my thought and my reality what it means that "only God can judge others genuinely". Sure, I think profusely, act objectively and get results honestly to the best of my ability, but I do not judge. Sure, I will have opinions and understandings, but not any judgements. Call it detachment, call it aloofness, call it what you want, but in my reality and to my understanding, only objective and honest realistic God can judge, everything else is an opinion. We must take realistic action based on facts anyway. So, to my way of thinking, we have to make it worth it for ourselves based on the realities and facts, not anything we feel it should be. That is what it comes down to for me, be for yourself.

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How To Create A Productive Mindset

When it comes to create a productive mindset, a lot of us seem to have the hardest time. Most people get into procrastination mode which is usually an easier choice but is the habit of putting off what you want to start. Therefore, how you can win the battle to build a fruitful frame of mind?

But what is a productive mindset? And what occurs when your intentions to get things done are crumbling? How does it happen? What can you do to focus on what is essential to your progress?

We all have experienced this before. I am no stranger to it. You have the feeling like you are running around and being busy all the time. You spend all day working and doing things, but at the end of the day, you look back and realize that you have done very little. It appears that of the ten different tasks you wanted to complete, you achieved only two or three of them.

Well, it often happens because of your mindset not being established in the right way. To have a productive mindset is to make the best use of your combined resources, time, energy, and efforts. Being productive is something you and I strive to realize.

I said it numerous times in other articles but let me repeat it; your mindset is everything. It is the groundwork for every achievement, victory, and success in your life. So, it is necessary for you to cultivate a productive mindset. If I am saying this, it is because if you want to reach your goals, you need to create an efficient set of mind.

First Steps to a Productive Mindset

As you know, each of us is different, so it is quite important that you structure your day in a way that works for you. First of all, you should observe your daily routine and be honest with yourself by looking if you do have a productive mindset or if you are just being busy, and correct that.

To be productive means that you are clear minded and focused on what you want to accomplish. It also means that you are using all of your resources to achieve your goals profitably. The next step involves morning habits that would help you get more done through the day.

To continue creating a productive mindset, you have to choose which vital assignment to start doing when you sit down for work. You have to make the right choices so you can kick off your day with dynamic momentum.

Primary Elements of a Productive Mindset

How productive your mindset often begins with your thoughts and habits. You always must start your day by being grateful for what is about to start. Always be ready for possibilities. Plans often change or get rescheduled leaving you with some free time.

Rather than being upset about it or feeling let down, use this time to read a chapter of a book, or listen to an audiobook. Each afternoon, I walk for two hours and during that time I hear some audiobook to educate myself. You could also make some calls, or write a thank you note.

You must have the willingness to know and learn new things. And it is also a great way to get your day back on track. But let me show you some of the primary elements of a productive mindset.

Vision and the Productive Mindset

You have to picture what you want and visualize it. It helps you focus and gives you an ideal image of what the outcome could look like. Without a picture in your mind, it is quite challenging to have the productive mindset to achieve a goal. People with a vision can accomplish what seems impossible.

Inspire Your Frame of Mind

You have to cultivate and motivate your mindset for it to be productive. Without motivation or inspiration, there is nothing to drive you to set goals, apply, improve and make progress. Inaction and procrastination destroy any improvement you wish to make or dream you want to realize.

Self-confidence is a Mindset

You have to believe that you are capable of doing what you set your mind to do. Self-confidence can help you reach your full potential and a more productive mindset. Stress is a natural reaction, so you have to relax by taking a deep breath and a small reflective pause. Then refocus on the day ahead. It will give you greater confidence.

Methods for a Prolific Mindset

In today's world, our mind runs through a list of dozens of things simultaneously. Some of those things keep us living in the future, while memories, good or bad, retain us in the past. Yet, to create a productive mindset is to live in the beauty of the present.

Be in the present. Focus and fully engage in whatever essential task you have to assure your best work and quality. Here are some essential productivity methods to create a prolific mindset.

Having Positive Outlook

In creating a productive mindset, your attitude has to be positive rather than negative, because it can make you or break you. When you have a positive outlook, it allows room for opportunity and option, while having a negative attitude defeat your frame of mind before you even begin.

A Productive Mindset is Being Persistent

Most of us know that the path to success does not come easily. So, you have to be persistent and willing to overcome any barrier or adversity coming your way. Push yourself beyond your limits and persist to achieve your goals. Do not let setbacks, circumstances, or even the opinions of others influence your actions and your determination to become successful.

Refreshing Your Mindset

To experience a productive mindset, you have to be at your best. That means you have to take care of yourself. Getting some rest and enough sleep each night is essential. You have to eat right and give yourself a few small breaks during the day. And you should always be aware of how you feel.

Tips to Create a Productive Mindset

• Write a to-do list for the day the night before. It will help you keep focusing on what you need to get done so that you will have a more productive mindset.
• Get enough sleep, because if you do not, your fatigue will eat away at your productivity. A lack of sleep has an apparent impact on any mental performance.
• Be motivated as it is a crucial element in working towards your goals. You need to have something that is pulling you towards achieving the success you want in life.
• Start your work with the most essential task. It is an excellent approach if you have the discipline to see to it.
• Cultivate the persistence to keep going, even when it is hard. To be persistent and never giving up is essential to any long-term success.
• Always hold a mental picture of the vision of the life that you want for yourself. It is that vision that will guide you and help you to create a more productive mindset through your day.
• Control your attitude and how you feel about things, no matter the circumstances. Even if you feel like you cannot control outside factors, you should positively view everything as it is an absolute necessity.
• Create a routine that helps you awaken your brain and mind, give you motivation and shows you a clear picture of your vision.
• Have an evening routine. Following the same ritual every evening, such as making yourself a caffeine-free hot drink, brushing your teeth, then dressing for bed, helps you get into the right state of mind for sleep.
• Take time to regenerate, recharge and refresh. That way, you will always keep a productive mindset.

A Final Word of a Fruitful Mindset

Finally, whether you are already committed, wandering on the path of least resistance or basking in the waters of procrastination, you now have different tools to be more productive. To be productive means that you are doing what you said you would do, and usually in a specific time frame.

Observe and check your habits and routines, and then create a productive mindset to get more done in a day. I know you can and will achieve more. So set yourself up to be successful with a prosperous start by following these simple methods.

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5 Ways To Start Your Day With A Bang

All of us have woken up to the sound of our alarm blasting us from a comfortable sleep and groaned at the prospect of getting out of bed. Once that initial feeling of tiredness passes, we must motivate ourselves to make the most of every day.

Here are five ways you can set yourself up for a productive and successful day.

1. Get Up Earlier And Read

Reading expands the mind. By trading thirty minutes sleep for thirty minutes learning you improve your knowledge, you become active more quickly and you invest time in yourself to become a better person. You become alert more quickly by exercising your mind in this time you would otherwise have spent sleeping.

2. Eat A Healthy Breakfast

Breakfast clubs for children in schools exist because it is well-known that a healthy diet ensures the body works at its optimal level. We learn, retain information and concentrate more effectively when we have had a healthy meal. If you miss breakfast you will be less alert and less able to concentrate during the day, so be sure to eat something healthy every morning.

3. Make Positive Affirmations

Having a positive mental attitude is vital to engaging with people effectively and dealing with the inevitable challenges we face each day. Start your day with positive affirmations and by doing so you will program yourself to be alert, energetic and in the perfect frame of mind to achieve everything you want to that day.

4. Make A List Of Tasks You Must Complete

With such a good mental and physical approach to every morning, having a clear list of exactly what you want to achieve will help you take advantage of this excellent frame of mind. You will easily achieve your list of tasks every day which will make you feel purposeful, successful and eager to achieve even more the next day.

5. Exercise Before Work

If you are fit enough you may wish to collect an endorphin boost by exercising before work. You will arrive at work feeling fantastic and be fully alert straight away. There will be no more losing one hour as you gradually wake up at work as you will arrive at work full of vitality and ready to grasp the opportunities of the day ahead.

It is called the present because every day really is a gift and these five steps will help you achieve as much as possible every day.

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The 5 Steps Wealth Creation SYSTEM

Wealth creation is really a frame of mind, everything begins with a distinctive frame of mind. You are actually reading this article, and that is not an accident.

There isn't any accident, every thing occur in your life based on your action or inaction for an important intent, therefore you make your personal down to earth future with your unlimited God-given capacity to achieve and get anything you like or even desire to be.

I'm concentrating particularly right here on wealth creation, along with what you must do to be able to accomplish this objective in your own life.

Listed below are the five actions to wealth creation and prosperity.

1. Creating the Actual Billionaire Mind Set:

You 'must' have the capability to observe something prior to it becoming physically real. That's a way of telling somebody to activate their belief or have vision.

Vision is definitely the capability to observe something in advance of it becoming actual.

Many people have been in lower income and living in lack due to the tales they had been presented as a youngsters. Using these tales these people create a self belief program.

Some people belief system includes an unfavorable mindset towards money. To create wealth and make your life monetarily self-sufficient, you need to create a wholesome mindset toward making money and lots of it.

You need to view money like a very good and essential asset in your own life. You need to wear another set of eye glass and take a look at wealth from a different angle.

Put simply, you need to rearrange the mind.

If you are intending to be involved in wealth creation and plenty of it, you need to think just like a billionaire, observe your self like a wealthy gentleman or a wealthy lady.

You might want to think about particular questions such as:

Should I deserve to be rich? 

Should I enjoy the lifestyle of my personal desire? 

Can funds really make a difference in the way I live and connect with other people? 

Think about the issue whether it is the desire of The Almighty that you ought to live the plentiful lifestyle?

This really is The Lord's package regarding you...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". - Jeremiah 29:11

Yes, The Lord would like you to delight in your own success as well...

2. Clean Your Mind With The Winning Attitude:

Brain washing features an unfavorable meaning, but I think that a lot of us require a washing of our brain to assist us create a wholesome and good mindset.

People who dwell on negative thoughts, will find their minds extremely confused and all messed up to slowly destroying us and blocking us from wealth creation and living the lifestyle of our own desire.

Wealth creation requires the best mindset.

Mindset is every thing, that's what create attitude.

As Paul Meyer says:

"Attitude is a habit of thought. Who you are is a function of specific choices that you have made. Who you are is not determined by how you look, where you live, or who your parents are. You are where you are and what you are because of the dominating thoughts that occupy your mind."

Mental attitude and mind set are related.

We are able to alter the path of our own lifestyles by altering the disposition of our own thoughts.

To begin true wealth creation and plenty of it, we need to nourish our thoughts on good quality peak performance and inspiring meals every single day.

To become negative or positive is a preference, but it's inspired through what we think, which is why we should focus on the idea of mind reprogramming.

Bury your self in good and wholesome thoughts, and concentrate about how you are able to inspire the lives of other people.

You will have the capacity to alter, to be able to accomplish and do just about anything and become nearly anything.

3. Find a good Mentor or a Coach:

The quickest approach to accelerate the whole process of wealth creation is locate your own trainer or mentor or coach.

It is not necessary to spend a lot of time with this issue, simply because, if you do not begin to see the necessity for this, it is not easy to persuade you in a single post.

Except to state, there's a difference between a mentor and a coach.

A mentor is somebody who has already been where you would like and ambitious to be and understand what it requires to help you get there in the quickest means.

A coach is somebody who might not exactly encountered the life-style you're aiming to attain, however, does possess the resources which can train and keep you motivated to get there quicker than operating on your own.

If you wish to begin wealth creation right now, find the best mentor/coach.

4. Make investments in a cash engine:

To get from one location to another, you will need a vehicle. Not merely any sort of engine, you should select the one that includes a properly lubricated, effective and dependable system. A vehicle that journeyed that path previously and understands the situation of the highway.

Wealth creation is to make investments in a programme that is creating earnings and transforming the lifestyles of other people over and over without fail.

Make investments in a program that has trustworthiness and history.

Wealth creation is to invest in the programme which has numerous and indisputable testimonies from real individuals whose lives are changed and re-created to a completely new way of living.

You will find such tools if you search diligently, and I'm planning to present one to you at the conclusion of this post.

5. Take Huge Actions:

Wealth Creation indicates doing something about it, but not simply only action, but huge and massive action.

It doesn't matter how awesome your mind set, how strong your outlook, how smart your trainer, how dependable your programme, if you do not do something, nothing is going to change.

Wealth creation needs to interact with all the links of mind set, outlook, correct guidance in the right programme and performing what is essential to make the unexpected happens.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-5-Steps-Wealth-Creation-SYSTEM&id=7473571

Overcoming Feelings Of Inadequacy And Low Self-Esteem

Once we develop our core healing and self-forgiveness frame of mind, we end up being addicted to it because it serves us in two main ways:

1). It provides us a feeling of control over other people's habits and sensations.

We hang on to the belief that our insufficiency is triggering others' behavior because we don't wish to accept others' free will to feel and to act however they want. We don't want to accept our helplessness over others' sensations and behavior.

2). It safeguards us from other feelings that we hesitate to feel, and gives us a sense of control over our own sensations.

As bad as feeling inadequate in life can make one feel, many people prefer it to the sensations that shame might be concealing-- solitude, grief, sadness, grief, or vulnerability over others.

Just as anger may be a cover-up for these challenging sensations, so is this low self-worth.

Overcoming feelings of inadequacy is totally various than solitude or grief or helplessness over others:

This low self-esteem is a sensation that we bring on by our own wrong-minded, ego-based false beliefs.

The Course in Miracles asks us to contemplate this question: "Do I want the problem or do I want the answer?"

The isolation, grief, sadness, sadness, or helplessness over others are existential sensations - sensations that are a natural outcome of life.

The Course in Miracles tells us, "Decide for the answer and you will have it, for you will see it as it is, and it is yours already."

We feel grief over losing somebody we like.

We feel alone in life when we wish to get in touch with someone or have fun with somebody and there is nobody around or no one available to love, experience a connection or play with.

Many individuals would rather feel a dreadful sensation that they are causing, instead of feel the genuine agonizing feelings of life.

If you are finding it challenging to begin overcoming feelings of inadequacy and move beyond it by self-forgiveness and healing, it is because you are addicted to the sensation of control that your low self-worth ego-based beliefs provide you.

You may think you have control over others' feelings and behavior and that they have control over your very own genuine sensations.

As long as having the control is essential to you, you will not let go of your false core low self-esteem beliefs.

You will begin overcoming feelings of inadequacy when you learn two important things:

1). You will need to accept that others' habits and sensations have nothing to do with you.

Your low self-worth will change when you accept that others have free choice to be closed or open, loving or unloving - that you are NOT the reason for their feelings and behavior.

Feeling inadequate in life will heal when you no longer take others' habits personally - you will have no need to manage it.

You will release your wrong-minded beliefs about yourself that cause the feeling inadequate in life when you release your need to manage others and rather move into empathy for others.

2). You need to feel your genuine feelings rather than cover them up with anger or low self-worth.

When you discover how to support yourself by being present with caring and empathy for your own existential sensations, you will no longer have a reason to secure against these feelings with blame or shame.

Try to see that control and lacking confidence in life are elaborately looped.

When you give up your need to manage, and rather select forgiveness towards yourself and others, you will find your lack of self-confidence fading away.

Many individuals on a healing path have discovered it exceptionally challenging to recover from feeling inadequate in life.

When you comprehend the function of healing and self-forgiveness, you will be able to move beyond low self-worth and feeling inadequate in life.

No self-confidence is the feeling that there is something basically wrong with you.

Whereas the sensation of regret is about DOING something wrong, feeling inadequate in life is about BEING wrong-minded at the core.

The sensation of feeling inadequate in life comes from the belief that, "I am basically flawed, insufficient, wrong, bad, unimportant, undeserving, or not good enough."

At some early point in our lives, most of us absorbed this wrong-minded belief that causes the sensation of low self-esteem.

As an outcome of not feeling seen, liked, valued, and understood, we developed the belief that we were not being enjoyed because there was something not exactly right with us.

While some children were informed outright that they were not all right-- that they were dumb, bad, or undeserving-- other kids concluded that there was something missing with them by the way they were being dealt with.

To healing and self-forgiveness!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Overcoming-Feelings-Of-Inadequacy-And-Low-Self-Esteem&id=9845842

Are The Highly Successful Really Superheroes? (By Daniel Brennan)

I spoke to a friend recently, who was struggling with some actions he had been taking that he didn't particularly like. He said he was struggling with X and that put him in a bad frame of mind which led him to feel poorly about himself and he felt like he was in a slow spiral; one which needed intervening. We spoke for a while and came to some conclusions. One line of our conversation struck me, and it is a belief system that many people hold to be true and it is that we compare the worst in ourselves to the best of what we see in others. Read that again... The best of what "we see in others"... As Descartes has pointed out, our main source of knowledge, our senses are often erroneous and therefore must be doubted. Seeing the best in someone therefore should be doubted and critically analyzed as best we can.

Perception or Reality?

The line that stood out to me was "I see you, living your life in America, you've written a book and are having a great time". To which I replied, "we compare the worst in ourselves to the best in other people". Have I been having a great time? Absolutely, but that is immaterial. A great time doesn't always mean happiness. My friend, lets call him Albert (you know his second name but that must be disclosed) was slightly taken aback when I told him, "don't worry, I've been in your position before".

In spring of 2014, I left my golf scholarship behind and moved back to Ireland. Upset, lost and full of B.S, I thought I had everything figured out. I figured, college is only a system and a business which churns out graduates that go into low paying jobs to repay the debt, which they racked up in their 4-6 years in college. I still believe this is the case but I now see through that and realize that the benefits of college are most often not from the college itself but from the people you meet, the places you go and the experiences you have. After moving home I wrote a book, another 'success', which my friend saw in me. Little did he know that when writing the book, I was upset, lost and extremely angry with myself. Later, after writing and publishing the book, which got some recognition from golfers and people I look up to, I started a company, which again was another 'success' in my life. Again, I grew more and more anxious, upset and uneasy with myself. In the summer of 2015, I decided to go back to college and pursue that dream again because I figured I must right the wrongs of my first attempt and I figured that the problem was not me, but the circumstances in which I found myself. Again, from the outside looking in, this probably seemed great and seemed like wow; Daniel is doing well for himself again... but... one month in and FLOP... Major flop. I came home for a few weeks in early October to get my head right which I did. Of course, my first attempt at university stateside had absolutely nothing to do with circumstance but rather a young cocky head on young shoulders led me astray and going back with a slightly altered but still not clear mindset was setting me up for failure yet again. Thankfully, it didn't.

Hmmmmm...

You're now thinking, "well thanks for your life story over the last three years but I really don't care", and I agree. You shouldn't. But there is a lesson in there. As my friend was on the outside looking in; all he saw was success, happiness and a guy who was literally, living his dream. From the inside looking out it was much different. All I saw was a guy who was upset with himself, angry with himself and frustrated with the lack of progress he was making in his life. I saw a guy who was a hindrance to society and someone who probably wouldn't be missed too much if he was no longer here. While this example is trivial, what it points to is absolutely essential in our overall wellbeing.

Seeing Through Your Biases

As we build our perceptions of other people, we often forget that everyone is facing a battle you know nothing about and I believe this is quite evident over the past three years. The media helps build sport stars and celebrities as superheroes and constantly reminds us of the crises our world is in. We are made believe that we are in this whirlwind for the long run and we can't get out and that somehow, the celebrities are immune to any distress or sadness. We are taught to look up to the people we want to be like as if they can do no wrong and we are made believe in an all-powerful, all loving being who can also do no wrong. We are made to believe that our life is set out for us and we have no bearing on the direction or outcome of each and every day. All of these societal biases lead us down a path that make us compare the worst in ourselves to the best we see in others and that is what makes us feel less powerful, more jealous and more insecure. We put our lack of success down to not being the chosen one and we often say we don't have the resources. We have thoughts like, "well if I grew up like him/her, I'd have done even more than they have". But the question is rarely about a lack of resources but a lack of resourcefulness. Although success and happiness should not be determined by achievement, we are made believe that the best at their craft are the happiest and that they live life in a bubble which is all roses and glory. I can't say it isn't as I am not the best at any of my crafts, but the more I learn and listen to other successful people, the more I realize that they are no different to you or me in that they battle with the same self-defeating thoughts as we do.

Nobody Is Perfect!

So how exactly does one deal with this unhealthy comparison? I would recommend being mindful about the fact that everyone is going through a battle that you know nothing about. I would also recommend being grateful as often as possible. Being grateful may sound a little woo woo and I know it will. The reason behind this is because "it can't be that simple" but there is a big difference between simple and easy to do. If, every morning you can write down three things you're grateful for, while trying not to repeat the same things in any three day stretch, you'll soon realize that the world is mostly a beautiful place to live in and we are simply looking in the wrong places for the wrong things and finding the wrong answers. If you continue to look toward the right things i.e. gratitude, you'll begin to notice more thing to be grateful for and you will see through your perceptual biases.

Stay hungry, stay humble.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-The-Highly-Successful-Really-Superheroes?&id=9472609

How To Boost Your Self-Image Fast

In his bestselling book <The Psycho-Cybernetics>, Maxwell Maltz once said that, "The self-image is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self-image and you change the personality and the behavior."

When you develop a positive self-image, your confidence will soar and so as your ability to handle new situations.

The best thing is that the world tends to accept the self-image you place on yourself.

When you have a strong, positive, self-believing self-image, others are going to accept that frame of mind and behave differently for you.

The first step to increasing your self-image is to know yourself.

Know thyself, Socrates intelligently said.

Not only do you need to understand your current skill levels, strengths and abilities, you also want to determine your weaknesses, disadvantages, trigger points so you can improve upon.

Never beat yourself up for discovering the ugly side of yourself. Flaws can always be turned into gifts if you work on them long enough.

Also, determine what parts about you are most crucial and urgent to change and focus all your energy on those areas.

There probably are aspects you don't concern that much and won't have significant effect on your self-image. Ignore those.

You want to concentrate all your power to change those with most leverage and impact.

And frankly, sometimes you should just accept those insignificant parts of your personality and move on to greater things.

Change is a constant. Success is change.

If you don't feel good about the current version of yourself, you must be willing to overcome the inertia of staying in the status quo and step up to take the tough challenges of changing your identity.

It's NOT going to be easy I guarantee. Our brain will do everything to sabotage your intention to change because of homeostasis. It always wants to make things as stable as possible.

But you do want to boost your self-image right? Then you must commit to taking consistent small imperfect actions to slowly shift your set point. It's totally worth it.

One of the fastest ways to boost your self-image is to upgrade your style.

Yes, I am talking about upgrading how you look, how you dress and how you present yourself even BEFORE you speak and meet any people.

Upgrading your looks and outfits is a huge challenge to most of us because we are not used to seeing our sexy, handsome, beautiful selves.

So if you can afford an image consultant, hire them and let them design a better style for you.

Want to know the secrets why most celebrities are so confident?

It's because those image consultants are trained to make people look good, feel good and develop massive self-love and confidence.

It's an uncomfortable process when you dress differently, but it's the fastest way to embrace a new identity and boost your self-esteem.

Remember that elevating your self-image is a process of change.

Stop living your life based on what others believe, like or think.

Stop comparing your back stage with successful people's front stage.

Stop pleasing others and sacrificing your own happiness.

You are the only person who knows what's best for you.

It's up to you to uplift your self-image and raise the standards of the game you're playing at.

When you change, everything changes. When you improve, every aspect of your life will improve.

I look forward to a newer, better, greater version of you soon.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Boost-Your-Self-Image-Fast&id=9524418

What a Difference It Makes If You Believe You Can

Does it make a difference if you believe you can do something? Well according to Henry Ford, "If you believe you can you can if you believe you can't you won't" or similar phrasing. In the bible we are told we can move mountains if we believe we can, and many authors have made similar statements. Dr Joseph Murphy, in his book "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind". Gives many illustrations of how believing helps you conquer illness and various situations, if you believe you can.

If you believe you can do something, you tackle a job in hand with greater determination, it is not a case of, if, but when, or how, these are the messages you send to your subconscious mind. Your subconscious then has to figure it out for you because that is what it is programmed to do.

Think of the Chinese martial arts, where with the use of mind power they have the strength to win fights and as they illustrate with the Karate chop, breaking planks of wood with their bare hands.

If you "know" you will be able to do something you approach it with confidence, in a happier frame of mind and this knowing relaxes you, enabling you to get into the zone or flow and achieve the task with ease. If you feel fearful and tense your whole body tenses up and you feel stressed, fearful of your success and it takes longer. It is also less enjoyable. We should aim to live our lives in a relaxed state for our health sake, progress and enjoyment.

So the next time you are struggling to achieve something, relax and change your mindset and see how it helps you succeed.

From personal experience I know coming from a background of relatives with practical skills, that I can make things grow, create things, paint and decorate, or sew anything. So confident was I that years ago I made coats, suits and a wedding dress and dozens of other garments, without questioning my ability. Whereas the idea of putting right an error on my laptop sends me into a cold sweat.

However despite the opinions of others around me, doubting I could ever build an online business, it is growing and I'm learning every day. It gives me great satisfaction to conquer my fears. So if you would like to start a simple online business, take a look at affiliate marketing, where a mentor will support and train you, provide products and take care of the delivery to you customers.

So tackle those fears, relax and go with the flow, believe in yourself and you too can follow your dreams and even set up your own business.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-a-Difference-It-Makes-If-You-Believe-You-Can&id=9258046

10 Mindsets That Will Radically Improve Your Business

Success is something all career-driven individuals desire yet it eludes many people -- at least at the levels desired. Why are some businesspeople successful and others not?

It has everything to do with habits, beliefs, passion, flexibility and attitude.

Often there's nothing really different between one entrepreneur and another in terms of ability, as each person can do whatever he or she wants. What it all comes down to is having the frame of mind to set practical habits and keep a balance between attachment and commitment and letting things happen. 

Here are 10 mindsets for success:

1. Choose courage over fear.

To be successful, you have to have courage. And to become courageous, do courageous things. Much of being successful is about going beyond what you think you're capable of -- venturing into the unknown. Whether you fail or succeed, you will learn and grow. 

Growth, in and of itself, means attaining a level of success whether it came from success or failure.

2. Believe in yourself.

Attitude is everything. A negative attitude decreases success and a positive attitude creates success. Without that belief in yourself, you'll lack a path to success. 

Success is something that's created. It's not something that merely "happens.”

When you firmly believe in yourself, you can achieve virtually anything: It's within this belief that you'll find the power to create the resilience and fortitude needed to keep going when things get tough.

3. Choose good company.

Whom you surround yourself with is among the most important choices you'll make as you climb up the business ladder. Negativity is contagious and if work groups, especially bosses, are negative, there will be a ceiling to your success.

To reach the goals you desire, be willing to change bosses if necessary. Or if you're the boss, rid your team of toxic people immediately.

It only takes one toxic person to destroy the morale of an entire campaign. Further, when you surround yourself with other successful, goal-oriented individuals, you can learn from them and take on some of their habits to add to your own as you proceed along your road to success.

4. Adopt self-chosen goals.

Knowing and being clear about where you're headed in business is something that must come from within. When your goals selected by you, you're more motivated to achieve them.

That's because by achieving these goals, you attain a new desired piece of yourself. When your goals arise from your instigation, they carry a deeper meaning and confer a greater impact on your identity.

Each self-selected goal realized adds a depth and an internal expansion to you as a person. Personal expansion is just one of the great gifts to come from succeeding in your business goals.

5. Have a purpose and a vision.

Visualization is powerful because actions follow thoughts. A great technique for nurturing your vision and purpose is to make your goals visual. Some people use vision boards; others opt for treasure maps. And still others set goals identifying specific dates for their achievement.

Whatever works best is a matter for the individual to figure out.

I believe that anything that's written down is more likely to be achieved than visions kept only in the head. When you make your purpose visual, you make it real. When you keep them in your mind, they remain wishes.

6. Accept the challenge.

There are few easy paths up a mountain and often they're hard to find. Challenge will be an essential piece in any type of success in business.

And challenge is what creates your growth along the journey. Each challenge obstructing your path provides you with the chance to create a more defined direction toward attaining your dream vendors, customers, managers, employees -- and numbers. For this reason, bless each challenge. Each one is a compass directing you toward new business leads, circumstances and opportunities.

7. Be discerning.

Selectivity creates success. You must think deeply and intelligently about the bigger picture and what it is you need for each step along the way to continue articulating and executing your business goals.

Mindfulness means being aware of all angles and staying sharply in touch with the present so that you do not have to clean up mistakes in the future.

Be discerning of group dynamics: which person is the best at what job, which customers or deals will take you the furthest and what it is that each moment is calling on you to do or change to be the most efficient.

That's how selectivity offers you the pursuit of success.

8. Be willing to take risks.

There are no guarantees on any path to success in life or business. The unknown is always looming. Therefore, risk and education are often the mechanisms necessary for knowing more clearly if you're on the right path.

If you're afraid to risk, you will put limits on your success and stay where you're comfortable. You cannot get what you want if you don't risk rejection and go for what you desire.

9. Do what you love.

You're more likely to succeed in business when you're invested in your passion and making your career fit your personality. There is a way to find passion about anything and everything you do in life.

You may not love every part of your job but tolerating discomforts by looking at the bigger picture makes your investment of time and energy worthwhile.

Be willing to love and find purpose in all aspects of what your business requires, commit to it and see what you're doing as being a benefit to others. When you love the business you're in, there is nothing that can keep you from wanting to work at it, nurture it and make it grow.

10. Gratitude.

When you see life and career in terms of the lack in what you have achieved, you cannot drive your business up the ladder of success. Then negativity is impeding your progress.

You must look at all you have and realize how great what you have is as compared to the situation of many others.

When you have this attitude, you stop suffering and complaining about the small stuff. On each receipt you pay out, write thank you. That's not only to thank the person, event, vendor or customer for what's provided you but also to give a private thanks acknowledging that you have the abundance necessary to pay for the service, product or event.

Habits coupled with flexibility provide you with a path to success. Success is fluid and so rigidity will stand in its way.

Developing these mindsets give you a compass to navigate the ever-changing tides on the way to business and financial goals. These mindsets allow openness and flexibility while also providing you precise direction.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242261