Finding Motivation - How to Find What Motivates You

Ever notice what motivates you? Motivation could come from many of your activities which you didn't give much thought before. In fact, it could be the answer to your limitless abundance, saying goodbye to money-related problems. This article will help you trace it and achieve it. Read on.

The source of your motivation will be ingrained in you. You jump up at the thought of it and can't wait to start it. You can't stop when you are doing it and when you are done with it, you can't help admiring it, feeling a deep sense of content and satisfaction.

Motivation could be about writing fiction/nonfiction books, music - singing and/or playing a musical instrument, painting portraits and/or natural sceneries, teaching, educating others and sharing your knowledge, playing a sport you like such as soccer, tennis or swimming, cooking a variety of dishes and compiling their recipes, and the list goes on.

Guess what earning money by doing what motivates you is a plus. You will not think of it as work and will always feel inspired to do it and enjoy your time doing it and at the end, earn good money from it.

You could even do a seminar/webinar about it reaching out to more people, helping others to find what inspires them and monetize it, earning a living as well.

You could passionately write books on them, reaching out across the globe not only gaining popularity but also helping the young and old alike to find out what it is they love to do and the steps they should carry out to make it the source of their living.

Imagine what would happen if each and every person on this earth were doing what they were excited about and also earning money from it - naturally the global economy would rise and no one had to leave jobs or get laid off unless because of other circumstantial problems, which could be worked out as well.

Doing the very stuff you love to do and also making a living from it will gradually help you to tap into limitless abundance and prosperity, and you will never have to worry about money problems again.

So the next time, when you are thinking about a career or business, put your creative mind at play, try to figure out what makes you jump up at the thought of doing something, then start doing it and step-by-step monetize it as well so that you never have to work another day again. Sounds good?

https://ezinearticles.com/?Finding-Motivation---How-to-Find-What-Motivates-You&id=10289389

Before You Try To Be A Friend To Anyone, Be A Friend To Yourself

Recently in my thinking and living, I made a few more positive changes, changes I feel and know will be permanent. I can honestly say from the vantage point I am at now, that a person who is truly and honestly friendly with themselves can and does create good and great habits in their lives. Bad habits, without matter to how enjoyable they can seem, are bad for you as they are for me and anyone. From smoking to spitting too much or lying, they are bad. Consequences of habits must be thought about and thought about deeply before they are embarked into. But, how many average people think in that manner?

That is how I start my article off, thinking about consequences and making you think about consequences from the first paragraph on. But, to use an old, overused saying: "Honesty is the best policy." I will change that slightly, honesty with yourself and full honesty is the best policy for genuinely getting rid of bad habits. This is where people become their own worst and most lazy, undermining enemy in every way.

To advance in any genuine way, we must all start by being honest with ourselves, and honest at all levels. (I am not an exception.) This is the rule of advancement. If you lie here, and avoid there, you also genuinely stagnate however it goes and it does not matter where else you advance in life and existence or how you "get better". Reality must be faced without flinching for one second, minute or years if you can. I did not say, "be perfect", I just am saying be honest to the best of your ability.

My Dad used to say "I do not play." The above second paragraph is what he meant in the ultimate way. We need to stop playing, be honest with ourselves, ultimately enjoyment will be possible in life. Note, I did not say "genuine play", but I said enjoyment, and I meant feelings of genuine enjoyment. There is a definite difference between playing with life and enjoying your life, if you get where I am coming from so far. So, I will say this breakthrough statement then go on with my article:

"People are as fearful as what they avoid."

That was a simple statement. But, what do I mean by that simple statement? Harold Geneen of ITT stated that facts do not lie, but I am taking that statement a few steps further with that one I said above about avoidance. The more you avoid life and existence, the more fear you have within you, that is what I mean. Your choice, built up courage to face the facts honestly knowing what they are or instant fear without even facing the facts. In so many words that I can say to end this, before you are a friend to anyone, face the facts squarely and honestly and be a friend to yourself.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Before-You-Try-To-Be-A-Friend-To-Anyone,-Be-A-Friend-To-Yourself&id=8417712

Do You Know How Much Time You Have Left?

One day we are all going to die. I'm not trying to be negative here or a dooms-dayer but this is a simple life truth. The sad thing is that many people who think they have a lot more time may have a lot less than they know.

Do you know anyone who recently passed away and didn't see it coming? I did - several as a matter of fact, but again I don't want you to think that all I am going to do is this brief article is focus on the negative death stuff - I'm not. But I did want to get your attention on a very important topic - living life with two things in mind - your now and your eternity.

First of all - no one can answer this question cause no one knows the date and time and circumstances of their final earth moments. This has over the years, been proven to be a good thing. Think about it - if you knew exactly when your time here was finished - can you imagine how stressful life would be as you counted down the years, days and minutes?

So, in reality you really don't know how much time you have left but what you do know is that you have this moment as you are reading this article.

And if you are fortunate you have the next moment for the next thing on your to do list. And, you have your plans for this weekend or this summer or even later this year's trip to La La land. Sorry folks, you really don't have these - you just have the moment now as you read. Want me to be really negative - you don't know if you have enough time to finish this article just like I don't know if I have enough time to finish writing it.

OK Tim, I get it but what's your point? If I don't know how much time I have left, why should I waste any more valuable time reading this article so I can move on to something more important or meaningful. (Wow - that hurt! - kidding.)

My point is simply this - how are you living - like you have forever? Just now? Eternity? All three? None of them?

Now - Eternity - The present - Tomorrow - Yesterday - I could go on for pages defining or describing these simple words but in the end their meaning is very personal and unique to each of us.

Back to my point so I don't leave you totally frustrated with my writing style.

We have now - we know we do - we are present, aware, laughing, crying, thinking, listening, talking - etc.

We have yesterday - regrets, memories, stories, disappointments, mistakes, failures, achievements, successes - etc.

We don't have tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. It's that simple folks. So, let me ask you - what or how are you using what you have knowing you don't know when it will be over?

Are you spending time in - worry, stress, selfies, jealousy, disappointment, anxiety, anger, blame frustration, fear and/or regrets etc. OR are you spending it in peace, joy, growing, learning, worshiping, sharing, giving, laughing, praying and/or gratitude etc.?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-You-Know-How-Much-Time-You-Have-Left?&id=9733596

How to Enjoy Simple Things in Life

What does it mean to Love like You Only Live Once and subsequently to Live like You Only Love Once? Well the thoughts and approaches to answering this set of questions is endless, to say the least. However, I am going to try and take bit of a personal approach and share my thoughts.

Life is so very precious for so many reasons. Regardless of our belief system, we tend to place a high value on life itself and are often challenged with the balance between living and existing. The anagram YOLO (You Only Live/Love Once) has become the battle cry of both baby-boomers and Millennials alike as we seek to get the most out of lives and our experiences. Yet when it comes to Love, we seem to hover somewhere between feeling our way around in darkness or just waiting and hoping that the love of a lifetime will just fall in our laps. (Remember, first-hand experience is my primary reference... ) So the challenge is to break the cycle, but at the same time not feel like the "Charge of the Light Brigade"... Well, good luck with that! The hard truth is there are no guarantees in life. There is no secret formula that will insure success and the proverbial - happy ever after.

What we do have is attitude and choice. We have the ability to choose not to be a victim of our condition and therefore adapt an attitude of optimistic confidence in the life we live and the choices we make. I know, this sounds real nice when we read it or we hear some "other person" tell us how it has worked for them. Trust me, I know. Yet, I think this is the moment that we have to challenge ourselves to break the cycle, turn the corner, come out of the dark, or get a move on. However you want to think about it but we have to recognize our moments of truth... and be true to them!

In closing, I will offer my own process for consideration. I consider myself to be a bit of a optimist at heart, as well as, a bit of a romantic in my ideas. Therefore, I will offer up some of my favorite poetry as my mantras in this process. The first is my "attitude" mantra. This is captured in the poem "Invictus": "I am the Captain of my ship... the master of my Soul". When it comes to my "choice/decision" mantra. I look to the "Serenity Prayer": "the Wisdom to know the Difference". Lastly, I have a poem that really does tie it all together for me. This is the poem "If": "to fill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds of distance run... Yours is the Earth and everything in it"... That is my approach to life and my attempt to... "Love like You Only Live Once" - "Live like You Only Love Once!"

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Enjoy-Simple-Things-in-Life&id=9571018

Living in Your Head? 7 Ways to Stop Over Thinking

Living in Your Head?

7 Ways to Stop Over Thinking.

Ever wrestled or struggled with the problem to the point of really over thinking it? We all have. You have probably found it a futile exercise for the unsolvables in your life. Your mind becomes an echo chamber because the answers are not there! It's like a hamster wheel that keeps going around and around and goes nowhere. Here are seven ideas for you to consider the next time you find your mind repeatedly going over and over problems that yield no answers to life's questions and your personal dilemmas...

Number one. The 95% rule--95% of what you imagine never actually happens. Many studies have found that most of what you imagine never actually happens in real life.

Number two. Never go there alone-- your mind is a scary place, never journey there alone according my father-in-law Tom. The solution is to share your burdens and get a second or third set of eyes on your problem or issue. Ask others that you trust what they see as plausible solutions for the things you wrestle with.

Number three. Never, never try to solve issues after 7 PM--Your prime time for problem-solving is well past. Go to bed and get a good night's sleep and go at it again fresh in the morning. You will find that a good night's rest will always bring a hopeful and new perspective to life's problems. Sleep on it!

Number four. Stop contingency thinking--You have no need of plans B, C, or D. Go and write out the facts and wait before you plan going forward. Consider what you know to be true. Why waste your time creating contingency plans in your mind when you're not even sure they are needed? Stop and consider!

Number five. Go with what you know--operate only in the fact that you know. Do not peddle in what you suspect, imagine or negatively narrate. Keep on point and never base your life on pure supposition or lack of knowing all the facts. Just the facts chief!

Number six. The other oriented-- Begin to make your life focus on others and participate in making others lives better. You will be happier and not live in your head if you practice being other oriented and more selfless. Givers gain!

Number seven. Stop missing life--Start participating and stop missing out on life because of the tendency to live in your head. Your distraction with your issues will only cause you to be forfeit when it comes to actually enjoy fully participating in life. Joyfully participate!

Number seven and a half. Pray and surrender. Actually go to God and surrender in prayer and give it to Him. Release, abandon, and let go of that which you have no control. Get free of your baggage!

Point of all this is to stop living in your head and begin to be other oriented and to actually enjoy life based on facts. Stop struggling with issues that you have no control over. Make life fun and be present and joyfully participate once again and you will be happier and so will those around you.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Living-in-Your-Head?-7-Ways-to-Stop-Over-Thinking&id=9509905

Dancing in the Rain - Leaving the Dark Behind

Foreboding skies and dark clouds signal the arrival of rain in our lives; yet the earth would be scorched in its absence. Without it we would never see a rainbow; like the beautiful stars that require a dark night to shine brightly, rain requires dark and stormy skies to usher in the power that washes away the ugliness hanging around in our atmosphere. Life is a little like that. Sometimes we have to stand in the dark, oblivious to the things we have invited into our life that is harmful, to be reminded that we need light in our lives. The darker the place you stand the brighter the tiniest light appears. Light beckons everything that is filed with life. We naturally lean into it.

How can you know if you are standing in the dark?

1) You are likely to be angry or anger easily. It's important to note that anger is the mask that fear wears. It's scary in the dark where we can't see clearly, no matter the cause. Fear is an absence of faith; they simply cannot occupy the same space. Faith is inspired by the light. 

2) You are inclined to be mistrustful, especially of people who appear to be happy. Happiness does not pervade darkness. When you reside there it is difficult to believe in emotions you cannot feel and easy to mistrust those who do. 

3) Your responses to others are frequently fast and cutting. You have a need to strike out and draw first blood just to warn others that they cannot mess with you. Most of your words are pessimistic, negative and discouraging, inspiring others to accept defeat. 

4) The natural lines on your face reflect a frown or a mouth that appears as a straight line. You imagine emotional involvement to be somehow dangerous. You are careful never to let anyone peer behind the protective wall you have built. 

5) Your eyes appear hard and cold issuing a clear warning to others not to intrude into you space. You have accepted even embraced loneliness even in a crowd. It's safer that way.

This doesn't sound like a great place to be yet many have remained in the dark for years, some for a lifetime. They are afraid to walk towards the light; afraid of what might be lurking there. That's why it is good to take a moment to really look at your surroundings after a hard rain; everything is fresh and renewed. Even flowers that were battered by the winds reach up and out in hope as they recover. Why; because this is the natural response to all things living and the very best reason to dance in the rain. Its arrival heralds new beginnings and the opportunity to step out of the dark and into real living!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dancing-in-the-Rain---Leaving-the-Dark-Behind&id=9624753

Be Happy For This Moment For This Is Your Life

The only time you can really be happy is right now. It is easy to remember all these things when they are being said; it is much harder to remember them when you are stuck in traffic or lying in bed worrying about the next day. If you want to move people, simply tell them the truth.

Today, it is rarer than it's ever been. It's easy to get caught up in life-what is happening, what isn't, what we wish was happening- and forget what we do have. The moments of nonstop laughter, the smile on someone else's face, when someone shows you a kindness you know you'll never be able to return, or when you help someone out that will never be able to repay you.

We spend a lot of time looking forward to the next thing, the next event, or the next step that we forget to live the life we have right now, in this moment. The people around me, my kids and family and the friends I've made have all reminded me of the importance of just being human. Some people would call it fate, karma, etc. but whatever we label it, it transcends us.

Seeing ourselves and the things around us-and I mean really seeing them with all their flaws, beauty, and potential-is living and once we step out of the fog, we can find happiness. Happiness doesn't come from the best job title or biggest paycheck. Peace of mind doesn't come from an easy lifestyle. Change doesn't happen overnight.

We are able to create change by living it.The beauty of living in these moments is celebrating the small accomplishments-watching someone graduate from CRP court, helping a client complete a step on their treatment plan, or observing their ability to grow and change as their work through their treatment plan.

Take life and split it into days. Make every day your memorable moment in your life. Our only existence that matters is always at the moment you are in. So wasting it in negative thoughts or ingratitude ruins the moment. live and focus in the moment" and happiness will reflect in a different perception. Be conscious of where you are in life and appreciate your connection to now, appreciate it for what it is rather than what it isn't.

It takes practice to do living at the moment because the negative mind distracts you. We hurry through life, not thinking about little moments. Moments where we can be distracted by little things that can make us smile, or laugh. And from these moments, feel happy about that moment. Life is full of small and simple moments.

Life can hit you between the eyes, or pass by you in the space of a heartbeat. The special moments go uncounted all our lives. And only a few will stand out when we are old and have the time to sit and reflect back. Or will they have drifted out of our minds, as they did soon after the experience?

I am taking the time now, to not regret paying attention to the simple moments that are given to me, to enjoy in life especially with my wonderful and adorable kids.

Just to take more notice of what life had to offer. Appreciate what we have right now. Be happy because we are blessed be it small or big.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Be-Happy-For-This-Moment-For-This-Is-Your-Life&id=9685293

Confront Your Big Decisions.

Are You Waiting Or Living?

You can't imagine how much time (life) the average person wastes - waiting for - something - anything. The right career, relationship, job, vacation or for life to give them what they want or they think they deserve. I know I have been guilty and I preach this stuff. So, why do we waste life - waiting?

Since I know you have something else to do, someplace to go or something you are waiting for I will be as brief as possible.

Waiting - the action of staying where one is or delaying action until a particular time or until something else happens. Guilty?

Living - way of life, lifestyle, way of living, life, conduct, behavior, activities. Helpful?

OK, so let me see if I can distinguish between the two and the advantages and/or disadvantages.

Life is short and speeds by in a flash. One day you are graduating from high school and in the blink of an eye you are in your 40's or 50's or older. We are all going to die and none of us knows when so why do we waste valuable time waiting for something better, newer or sooner?

Living is an adventure and each day can be lived with passion, purpose and a sense of joy or we can live each day wondering, fretting, worrying or regretting. Think about it - I'll bet for you the time has flown by leaving you asking yourself why - why you waited, why you wait or what you have missed as you waited or even - where has all the time gone? Living is not about yesterday or tomorrow it is about making the best of every year, every day or even every minute you are given, not squandering time.

Yes, I know that some things take time, but in the process do you stay in a limbo state waiting or live with gusto while you wait?

Disappointment is a natural part of life as are many other emotional states but in the end spending too much time in disappointment just wastes time and life.

Let me ask you have you ever spent time waiting? For something or anything that you couldn't control? If your answer is no - I'll bet you are in a serious state of denial.

Again yes, I know that we all need to be patient as we wait for circumstances, careers or relationships to play out their normal series of events but the real question is - if you wait and it doesn't happen the way you planned, hoped or desired was the waiting worthwhile?

Over the years I have developed a simple philosophy while I wait for life to give me what I want, hope for or desire. I will be excited if it happens and I won't be disappointed if it doesn't. This simple approach does several things for me.

One - it keeps my focus on now and not yesterday, tomorrow or what's next. Two - It helps me let go of control of what I can't control. Three - It reduces the disappointment and regret in my life. And four - it helps me realize how life happens in spite of my dreams, wishes or expectations.

Works for me. How about you - have a philosophy to handle waiting or is waiting in control of your life?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Waiting-Or-Living?&id=9369393

Importance of Self-Improvement

"Self-improvement" is very popular these days, yet why is it that some people display a great interest in self-improvement while others consider it a waste of time?

Let's consider why some people are keen on self-improvement and others not so much.

There is a hidden stigma attached to the idea of self-improvement. It can be seen as unnecessarily inward-looking, or termed "navel-gazing." The stigma also refers to mental health issues, as in for example, with the need for self-improvement that there must be "something wrong with you."

For these reasons people will often keep their desire for self-improvement secret, as they do not wish to be subjected to securitizing questions.

Other reasons why self-improvement is sometimes derided include the fear of what we may find once we start looking within and the need to feel that we are OK as we are. This thought could go something like "I'm OK, why would I need self-improvement for God's sake!"

However, the benefits of self-improvement outweigh anything else.

Many books, programs on TV and radio, and businesses which run along lines of self-improvement such as yoga, meditation, various mental therapies, health supplements and foods, biofeedback, kinesiology and color therapy demonstrate the helpful effects of self-improvement, and even necessary, within our lives.

All of us have a desire to live well, even though success and well-being mean something different to each of us.

Self-improvement touches upon all aspects of life from career to parenting, to being a good partner, to being a member of a community, living well with ourselves and doing the best that we can.

* You will often find that striving for something that is different from the way you are currently living, or times when you are recovering from a low-point in your life, are the times when you will begin to consider improving yourself.

* Perhaps, you may realize that every one of us has personal weaknesses holding us back from the lifestyle that we feel is best for us.

* Or maybe you just know that you can do better.

Truth is, the world can be a giant obstacle to hurdle over, even a harsh place, and low self-esteem is the first thing that will halt your progress as you reach for the stars in your own unique way.

Even if you are in a big hurry to make a fantastic life for yourself, you must like and accept yourself first. There is no way you can avoid this all important task.

Are you feeling less than happy, balanced or important in your own way? Are you without a partner, without a job, do your friends tell you that you are no fun to be with? Then there is no time to be lazy. Improve yourself!

We humans have been around for a long time, and we're more alike than you think. We all experience similar pains or want similar pleasures that somebody else has figured out for us. There is not one problems you can't investigate and improve upon.

The proven results of self-improvement include better sleep, more contentment, higher intelligence, lower blood pressure, better relationships, less anxiety and enhanced ability to cope with stress and the list goes on!

Even if you are happy with where you are in life, realize there is always something better than just "feeling OK" and start to really take steps toward finding out how to thrive rather just survive.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Importance-of-Self-Improvement&id=8991908