A Few Tips On The Journey To Success

For most people, there is no clarity in exactly what they are going to do today, tomorrow or for the rest of their life. The general habit is to go with the flow, find some time to eat and sleep and do whatever comes their way for the rest of the time. The reason for all this is because they are not clear about their purpose in life.

If you can determine and fix, where and what you want to get in life, the purpose of your life is defined. Have you, within your mind's eye, firmly generated an image of yourself, say about 5 years or 10 years from now? It could be anything. Could be related to your workplace, your financial or social status, or perhaps all of them.

Look around and spot successful people like businessmen, actors, sportsmen, head of organisation etc. It is easy to notice their charm, their confidence, their excitement, and enthusiasm. The body language speaks for itself.

Some tend to believe that external factors determine the cause of their happiness. Yes, to a certain extent our moods and feelings do get governed by our external situations. Yet it is important to understand that our true personal joy emanates from our character, determination, and conviction that resides within our internal self.

So, what is it that you need to have? Let us list a few of them below:

1. A Goal - Goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.

2. Clarity of Action - create a path that determines your course of action.

3. A Burning Desire - a burning desire is your fuel to drive you forward.

4. Self Confidence - a belief in yourself that you have the ability to take up challenges and responsibilities.

5. Persistence - A never to quit attitude.

6. Focus - an ability to remain focused on your desire and the end result.

7. Create Excitement - an ability to keep the flame of excitement constantly burning.

8. Self-Recognition - an ability to recognise your achievements on the way.

Once you adopt the above process, people will start noticing you. It is possible then, that people will more likely approach and help you in some ways to meet your desired goals.

Remember however that there are no shortcuts. Work hard for all that matters to you. Once you work your way through and get familiar with the track, your journey to success will get accelerated.

In the end, we are fully responsible and accountable for our lives.

http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Few-Tips-On-The-Journey-To-Success&id=9802272

The Sunny Side of Your Mind: Five Steps Towards Improving Your Mood

This is obviously a takeoff on the song, "The Sunny Side of the Street." This is the second installment on the theme of Victimhood and how and why one should resist the temptation to go there because it is so destructive to one's life. Unfortunately, I speak from personal experience. It's not that I have been a true victim in life or really considered myself one, but I must admit that I have entered in that pond from time to time in an effort to soothe my "inner child" by wallowing in self pity. Unfortunately, it never works. Thinking dark unhappy thoughts, regardless of your intent, still and always will create dark unhappy feelings and moods; it is a simple case of cause and effect. Your mood does not take sides; it just does what it is told. Thus sad thoughts create sad feelings every time. In other words, you can't win by being a victim; life just doesn't work that way and it only leads one into a vicious cycle of anger, sadness and negativity (not a good formula for a happy life.).

Please don't misunderstand my intent here, unfortunately life does create some actual victims and I am not in any way trying to minimize the suffering of these brave souls. In fact, I am saying just the opposite, there are true victims and those who just want to wear that mantle. And then there are those people of superior character and courage who are true victims but transcend it all the same.

The realization that I have finally come to after living more decades than I enjoy admitting to is that "mood conquers all." I used to think, believe and accept that a bad or dark mood was the direct result of my circumstances and until and unless this was changed, I had no choice but to suffer the consequence of my current life situation. This led me, in my younger days, to seeking out venues where I could drink and party to boost my mood or think of the "magic scheme" that would free me from my rollercoaster like emotional ride.

Then one day, when my partying days were over, I learned the truth about one's mood. That truth is that mood, for the most part, is not so much controlled by ones circumstances, which we cannot often control, but by ones thoughts, which we can.

As the song goes, "I used to walk in the shade with my blues on parade," but "Life can be so sweet on the sunny side of the street," the same holds true with your thinking. So now that we know what not to do here is my formula for a lifetime stroll down the "sunny side of your mind."

Five Steps Towards Improving Your Mood

Make it your Intention to be a Happier Person: This may sound simplistic and even a bit Pollyannaish, but it is nothing of the sort. I hereby give you permission to feel okay or even good even when things aren't going your way. Those of us who wait for everything to be just right to feel good have a long wait indeed. Believe it or not but feeling good and having a good experience can be mutually exclusive, in an overall sense. Like having a positive attitude even when things don't go your way.

Maintain Awareness: Be aware of your negative thinking and nip it in the bud

Make Your Happy List: Write down a list of the things in life that make you feel happy when you think about them, preferably things that you have actually experienced and carry positive emotions. Both see and feel these experiences in your mind.

Daily Practice: Go over your "List' in your mind on a daily basis, as many times as possible especially upon rising and before sleeping. Do this at least three times a day for the first two weeks and then as often as possible.

Going Forward: Then revert to your Happy List whenever you catch yourself feeling bad or in a dark mood.

What I have written here is not just a theory, it is a simple and practical way of feeling "Happier," which I use myself and teach to my clients with excellent results.

So give it a try, the only thing you have to lose is the blues!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Sunny-Side-of-Your-Mind:-Five-Steps-Towards-Improving-Your-Mood&id=9414876

15 Easy (And Cheap!) Ways To Boost Your Mood

On days when I'm feeling low, I wish I could afford to blow $500 on a shopping spree or spend a day at the spa. But realistically, most of us have other priorities for that money, like rent.

Luckily, I have a reservoir of mood-boosters under $15. Here are my go-tos:

1. Buy a Scratch 'N Win (or five). Even if you don't win, the scratching process can be enjoyable!

2. If you have a car, take it through the car wash. It's an easy way to feel productive and derive satisfaction from the completed result.

3. Go to a drop-in yoga, spin, or fitness class. Many studios will have karma classes or a free class for first timers.

4. Treat yourself to a journal, and write down what you're feeling. Don't judge what you write; do it for the therapeutic process, not the product.

5. Browse Meetup groups and challenge yourself to attend one meetup in the next week (so long as it's under $15 ...).

6. Go on a shopping spree ... at a thrift store!

7. Download an audio book or new album.

8. Make a donation to your local SPCA. and ask if there are any friendly animals you can hold or play with. Pet therapy is becoming more and more popular.

9. Peruse Groupon for sweet deals under $15.

10. Buy a friend (or stranger) coffee.

11. Offer to buy someone lunch.

12. Get your eyebrows threaded.

13. See if there's a massage school in your area. Most will offer massages for $10 or $15.

14. Find a yummy recipe with ingredients under $15, and bake (if you don't have a healthy relationship with baking when you're down, bake for a friend or lover).

15. Get a disposable camera and find moments of mindfulness by being a photographer for a day. Like the journaling, do it for the process, not the product.

Have a cheap mood-booster of your own? Add it to the list!

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-14789/15-easy-and-cheap-ways-to-boost-your-mood.html

9 Signs You're A Highly Sensitive Person

Has anyone ever told you to calm down, stop being so sensitive, or not take things so seriously? I can say yes, yes, and yes without a blink of an eye. I was the sensitive one in my family, and I guess I still am. We all laugh about it now, because I can easily be brought to tears by so many different things.

I don't question what may be wrong with me any more, because when you live with people who don't show their emotions like you do, you think something's wrong with you. Age, along with the knowledge that 15-20% of the population is highly sensitive, helped me embrace my personality.

Since discovering that HSPs are such a large group of people, I've learned more about what it really means to be a highly sensitive person. There's much more to this trait than just crying easily.

Below are some common characteristics that people with HSP share; if you recognize these signs in yourself, you may be one too. I can personally relate to each and every one.

1. You're hyper aware of subtleties in their environment.

HSPs usually notice things that other people miss. Maybe it's a new haircut or furniture that's been rearranged. Sounds can startle them easily, and they're more sensitive to certain smells and fabrics.

2. You're easily affected by others' moods.

Everyone is affected by the moods of others, both positive and negative, but the effect is heightened in highly sensitive people. It's great if you're around positive people, but not so great when you're around people with heavy energy.

3. You become overwhelmed quickly.

If you ask an HSP to do too many things at once, she becomes overloaded and rattled. HSPs don't do well in chaotic or stressful situations. Many times highly sensitive people will arrange their lives to avoid overwhelming situations. If they end up in a chaotic environment, they'll probably find a quiet place to down-regulate their overly stimulated brain.

4. You take criticism to heart.

Criticism is part of life. But because highly sensitive people feel things more deeply, they'll hold onto criticism longer than someone not so sensitive. As a result, they tend to be people-pleasers, removing room for criticism. It's important to note that while they hold onto criticism, a compliment will go a long way.

5. You make compassionate friends.

Highly sensitive people are also very intuitive and feel deeply. They're able to empathize with people, to a point where you almost feel like they're going through what you're going through.

6. You're conscientious.

HSP's are very considerate with above-average manners. They're the first to notice when someone is rude or inconsiderate. They'll give up their seat on a bus or move out of the way on the sidewalk without even really thinking about it. It comes naturally to them.

7. You tend to avoid violent movies and TV shows.

Since HSP's rank high on the empathy scale, they tend to stay away from shows with violence or horror in them. They know negative news or violence will upset them, so they do what they can to avoid it.

8. You have a deep appreciation of art, music and nature.

Highly sensitive people are often deeply moved by the arts and nature. The natural beauty of nature is healing and calming to them. Oceans, rivers, and lakes give them a sense of comfort.

9. You don't feel very decisive.

Highly sensitive people think with their emotions. This, coupled with being acutely aware of subtleties and details, makes it harder for them to come to a decision. They can easily get upset if they make the wrong decision or poor choice.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-16215/9-signs-youre-a-highly-sensitive-person.html