The Threshold of Change
Posted on August 28, 2008
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Standing on the Threshold of Change
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Karen_Knott]Karen Knott
Most of us know what it’s like to spend some time here - standing on the threshold. It usually happens just at the point where we’ve made decisions about the changes we want to make, designed our vision for the future and can see it beckoning us ‘on the other side’ and all we have to do is get there.
It sounds so easy….all we have to do is get there… and yet the threshold of change is where many of us loiter indefinitely only to remain separated from the place we want to be.
So what’s going on? What stops us from actually making the changes we yearn for? The paralysis we experience is the result of fear, together with a few other things like resistance, doubt and procrastination thrown in for good measure. When they choose to combine forces they form an effective ‘mental canyon’ between where we are now and where we want to be. For many of us, the realisation that we have to actually step onto the bridge that will take us to the other side is so daunting, we become immobilised and stranded by our fear.
Yes, fear can certainly be a crippling poison but action is a powerful antidote. Now, if I was to suggest that the best way over the bridge was to just keep running, no matter how much it sways, until you reach the other side, you might understandably prefer to stay put. But what if instead, all you had to do was step onto the bridge secure in the knowledge that it would cause little more than a slight quiver? Then, when you’ve got your balance, what if you took another step …and then another… and another, until you stand triumphantly on terra firma, at the place you want to be.
No amount of dreaming, planning or positive thinking in the world will get you past the threshold of change without taking action. And without taking action, your vision, hopes and dreams will always remain on the other side.
Karen Knott is a life coach who works with midlife women who are eager to reconnect with their sense of purpose and enthusiasm and make lasting changes that have a positive impact on their lives.
Get a taster by registering for her free e-Programme ‘Turning Midlife into the Time of Your Life’ at http://www.midlifematters.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Knott http://EzineArticles.com/?Standing-on-the-Threshold-of-Change&id=1413159
Do You Need More Motivation?
Posted on August 27, 2008
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Need Motivation? Olympian Reveals the Number One Key That Will Ignite Your Motivation Forever
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Linda_Schaumleffel]Linda Schaumleffel
Every four years, millions of people around the world are enthralled by the athletes of the Olympic Games.
But as a spectator what you may not know is that Olympic athletes discover keys to success THAT CAN HELP YOU! True, you may not be able to relate to their god-like physical attributes, but if you’re like me, you can relate to their desire to achieve, to reach a goal.
So whether you are a fan of the Olympics, and especially if you’re not, you will want to take advantage of the number one key learned by all Olympic athletes. This key will build your motivation, ensure greater success and boost your self-esteem.
Powerful key revealed: THERE ARE THREE OUTCOMES TO EVERY RACE!
We all can agree on the first outcome, and that is TO WIN! Winning means that you achieved better results than anyone else on that day. That’s good. The downside of winning is that only one person can win. So where does it leave everyone else?
Most people would say that if you don’t win, then you lose. Losing is much rarer in the Olympics than you can imagine. But let’s talk about another outcome.
You can BE BEATEN. This is not the same as losing. Being beaten means that you did your very best, but someone else did better than you. Of course everyone wants to be number one, but there is honor in being beaten. How can you possibly do better than your very best?
Think about it. If your very best isn’t good enough, then only the impossible will do. What are your chances of achieving the impossible in your life? If there is only win and lose, you are setting yourself up for failure. How much motivation can you muster to continually try and fail? So the key is to include “being beaten” as an honorable outcome.
The final outcome is TO LOSE. In the Olympic world “to lose” means giving up or quitting. It means taking yourself out of the race, or not even trying. How motivating is that? Many people have this all-or-nothing attitude. If they can’t win, then they don’t try. Over time this attitude is the biggest killer of motivation. How do you operate your life?
To succeed we need a different attitude; we need to believe that doing our best is honorable.
A great story emerged from the 1968 Olympics. John Akhwari of Tanzania, brutally injured his leg during the marathon. The winner had already been declared an hour earlier when John hobbled into the stadium. As he crossed the finish line, the few remaining spectators roared its appreciation. A reporter asked him why he had not retired from the race, since he had no chance of winning. He seemed confused by the question. Finally, he answered: “My country did not send me to start the race. They sent me to finish.” Was John a loser? No. HE WAS WELCOMED HOME A HERO.
Another great story you will never forget is [http://www.powerbrainfitness.com/library.php/]about Nick
If this story doesn’t strengthen your motivation, nothing will!
It’s true. The Olympics just come around every four years. And your life, your fitness, (or lack of it) is very, very real. However, if you are like me you appreciate guidance from whatever direction it comes. And this key learned from the Olympic athletes can (and will) insure you emerge from your particular challenges with stronger motivation, greater success, and increased self-esteem. So go ahead! Set high goals for yourself; just remember to celebrate EVERY time you do your best!
Linda Schaumleffel, Olympian and head injury survivor, guides people worldwide with faltering memory or head injuries, by teaching them how to thrive again, strive for peak productivity, and build a hedge against dementia. Get a jump on your own brain health with free special report, “BRAIN FITNESS: The Top 17 Activities That Will Revive Your Brain at Any Age!” at http://www.PowerBrainFitness.com
Problem Solving or Creating?
Posted on August 27, 2008
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Problem Solving Or Creating? Which is Best and Which Do You Gravitate Toward? By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Graham]Jerry Graham
“Your mind is going to be working on something or other. That’s its nature.” Robert Fritz
The nature of your mind is to always be working on something. The question of the day is, should you allow it to choose the task of its own liking and just go along for the ride (aka being a victim), or should you guide and direct your mind to be working on something of your choosing (being responsible)?
Interesting thought, isn’t it? The author of the above quote, Robert Fritz has written that, left undirected, your mind is naturally going to choose to solve problems and thereby engage in all the activities normally associated with problem solving, e.g., fretting, worrying, pondering, dreading, brooding, and struggling. Sound like fun?
The alternative, again according to Fritz, is to “give your mind a bigger, more productive tension to work on. If you don’t, naturally it will gravitate toward the problems because it is trying to resolve the conflict the problems provoke.” He uses the word tension, and Fritz contends that tension naturally comes from a clear articulation of a desired future and the current reality. As you can see, his use of the word “tension” is as a friend, drawing you toward your desired future.
So, you can fall prey to the “tyranny of the urgent,” i.e., dealing with the day-to-day problems we all face — those things we are trying to “avoid, eradicate, or eliminate.” Or, by simply making a clear decision about what it is that you desire along with a clear description of what the current situation is, your mind will automatically begin to gravitate toward resolving that larger tension and thereby focusing on “creating, building, or producing.” This is what Fritz and others call The Creative Process.
To get further insight into the creative process and the whole notion that being a problem solver is second best to being a creator, I heartily recommend Fritz’ latest book, Your Life as Art (Newfane Press, Vermont, 2003). He brings a fresh perspective to creativity and goal setting that you may never have seen before.
Jerry Graham is a professional life coach and one of the charter members and guides of [http://www.jirehmarketing.info]Renegade Network Marketer University, which shows network marketers how to build their prospects list while at the same time, generating cash to support further marketing. Renegade University is unique in its incorporation of step-by-step video tutorials and explanations that a beginner can easily follow. Whether you’re an internet marketing expert with a large list or a beginner, you will find that the Renegade University Affiliate Program will fully monitize your prospecting activities by providing significant value to your prospects.
Overcoming Bad Behavior or Lifestyle
Posted on August 26, 2008
Filed Under Coaching, Life Strategy, Life in General | 1 Comment
Practice - Overcoming a Hurtful Behavior Or Lifestyle
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Josh_Perez]Josh Perez
Practice makes perfect. We have all heard that expression before. However, while practice does not make an individual perfect, it will make him/her better and maybe even the best in the world at whatever they have practiced for.
I remember in my childhood days when my brother and I got new bikes for Christmas. We were so excited to finally have bikes to ride around in the neighborhood. The only problem was that we had never rode bikes before. Not to mention we were already 12 and 13 years old at that time, so training wheels for our new bikes were out of the question.
To start off, my dad would hold our bikes while we hopped on and got set to ride. Once we started to peddle he would give us a little nudge and we were off. However, I was not off to the races, because at about 10 - 15 feet of riding I lost my balance and fell off.
My dad would do the same routine over and over and I kept falling off over and over. I was so upset and I’m sure I even cried, because I wanted to ride my bike so bad, but could not keep my balance. Finally, I just gave up and went inside the house pouting and thinking I would never be able to ride a bike.
The next morning I thought I would try it again and so I went outside, jumped on my bike without my dad, and began to ride and I rode and I rode. My dad came outside and was so excited for us. Riding a bike is not hard, but it does take a level of practice. Since my brother and I practiced we could only get better. At first, we could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. We constantly saw falls, bruises, and our feelings hurt.
We are all gifted and talented and some things just seem to come natural to us. Although, if we are not careful we may think the natural talent for something will be enough not realizing others are working hard to be better and more than likely will be better than us. Having natural talent and gifting for certain things should not excuse us from working hard to be better and even great. It takes practice.
Going back to High School years if we desired to play on the High School football team, we had to show the coaches we could play and that we could play better than the others trying out for the same position. Practices would take place every day after school and we would work hard for the position we desired. It took practice on and off the field.
How about when we had a big test or final exam coming up? We would take the proper time to practice by studying the material we learned throughout the year over and over again. Yes, practice can be tiresome and redundant, but it is that consistency that causes us to remember and makes us better.
Another thing I think of relating to practice is that there is a right and wrong way of doing things. If we are practicing the wrong way of doing things, the end result will not be good. It may look good for a while, but will turn out not so good. In other words, if we learned a certain behavior, attitude, or lifestyle that was not good, the end result will be bad for us.
Let’s put this concept into perspective. You learned that beating your wife was perfectly ok, because you saw your father beat your mother throughout your childhood. You learned that behavior and practiced it and it will not turn out good for you. Cheating on tests, acting out your rage, using illegal drugs, drinking to get drunk, cussing others out, talking behind people’s backs, lying, and anything like and associated with these will mess our lives up. There are good behaviors and wrong behaviors. There is a good and wrong lifestyle. It is up to us to make sure we are not practicing the wrong behavior and lifestyle.
What behavior, attitude, or lifestyle do you recognize that is not healthy for you that you desire to get rid of? It all starts with you acknowledging that your behavior or lifestyle is not benefiting your life; rather it is robbing you of life. Remember, you act the way you do, because that is how you learned it and so you practiced it that way. Now, if it is a behavior or lifestyle that is not benefiting you, then find out, learn, and start practicing the behavior or lifestyle that will benefit you. It takes practice.
It just takes practice. Anything we long to change in our lives just takes practice performing it a different way from what we originally learned. How willing are you to work hard to achieve the proper behaviors or lifestyle you desire? Think about your life right now and ask yourself what behavior that I possess constantly causes friction between me and others? You have the power to change it. Again, going back to me riding my bike or trying out for the High School team it took practice to accomplish the end result desired. Practice will not make you perfect, but it will help you to become great.
Josh Perez is a speaker, writer, and a personal and professional coach helping individuals set and achieve goals, make life changes, overcome procrastination, become free of damaging thought patterns, conquer obstacles, discover life purpose, get out of a rut, and move forward.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Perez http://EzineArticles.com/?Practice—Overcoming-a-Hurtful-Behavior-Or-Lifestyle&id=1419878
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