Meditation: Marie’s Personal Practice

MOTIVATION - CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Do Something Great Every Day!

Want to change how you feel right now? Ask yourself, "what can I do great today?" Think about it. What's the one great thing that you did today?

Perhaps it was some great insight that you got from meditating or a newsletter etc. Maybe you did something to help someone else. Did you contribute to someone else's well being? Whenever you contribute something from your heart and soul to someone else and it makes someone's life a little bit better, you end up doing something great and that impacts how you feel. I call that the "benefit cycle'... quite the opposite of the "vicious cycle" which we all try to avoid.

After you've become aware of doing something great, you might begin to think "what else can I do today that is great?" That's the snowball effect of doing great things. You feel better because you have made a contribution to someone else's growth and well-being which, in turn, has a positive effect on you. Now, you are tapping into your creative mind and thinking about what other contributions could be great. The answer lies with you. It may be some creative endeavor. Perhaps it's just going outside and appreciating the wonders of the world and the universe. That's up to you. Use your imagination. Make it happen...

Check back over your life and make a mental or written list of all the great things that you have done and accomplished. Perhaps you've built something fantastic or created a fabulous family and some wonderful offspring. Many of us have a tendency to review only the "bad" things that have happened to us. They overshadow the great things that we have done and it ends up detracting from our happiness. Give yourself some credit and watch your mood change for the better.

It's too easy to come down on yourself for your shortcomings and your failures. It's too easy to think that you could've done more and you're not adequate enough or good enough. Throw the "Shouldas, Couldas and Wouldas" in the trash. That's your internal critic talking. What about your internal contributor? Don't forget to make that list.

What did you do yesterday or last week when you did something great and maybe even contributed something to other people and the universe? Here's what you can start to do:

• Check it out and give yourself some credit for it.
• Stop knocking yourself.
• Drop the negativity.
• Begin telling yourself a NEW story. One that is different from the way that you have talked to yourself in the past.

The world's a better place because YOU are in it. It's a better place because you have done some great things and tomorrow, the next day, you will do something great and acknowledge it.

YOU ARE YOU! Look at some of your mentors. You admire them because they made great contributions and did great things. You don't admire those people who have done terrible and questionable things. You admire your heroes because they have done something great. Become your own hero. Do something great right now, this very minute. You CAN do it.

DON'T sit idly by waiting for life to come to you. TAKE the initiative and DO something great right now.

Paul J. Hannig, PH.D. LMFT is a licensed California Marriage and Family Therapist offering innovative and in-depth counseling and psychotherapy. For over 40 years, the goal has been to help clients define who they are and how to evolve to the next stage of their lives in the most successful and productive way possible. Therapy is individualized to provide the most comprehensive, individualized care to each and every person who seeks help. For more information, go to http://www.psychotherapyhelp.com.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paul_Hannig_Ph.D./90527

https://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Something-Great-Every-Day!&id=10164436

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10164436

The "1 Billion Dollar Morning Routine" - Habits of the World’s Most Successful People

OPRAH WINFREY | Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Circumstances!

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Eye Opening Speech - Best MOTIVATION Ever 2019

The Wonderful Benefits of Coaching

VISION. You will have a clear idea of where you want to go and how to get there. Often we know the end result, but do not see what it takes to get there. This is critical for your success. You cannot do what you cannot see first. Coaching will ask you questions to make sure your vision is strong.

MOTIVATION. You will know what you really want and understand your unique values and motives to keep you moving forward. Stop procrastinating, delaying and putting off because of fears, perfectionism and doubts.

FOCUS. You will be able to operate with clear priorities, doing what is most important things which will allow you to excel In the midst of 'urgent' demands and busy chaotic schedules and lives.

CLARITY. Each coaching session deepens your learning about how you work and think. Coaching also prepares you for action and supports you in getting crystal clear on the steps to take. By work with a coach, you will get a helicopter perspective so that you can return to your business and navigate quickly because you have taken time to assess where you are going. You will be able to see what is right in front of you and developed a plan to forge ahead.

ENERGY. You will find yourself working at your optimum potential. Why? When you are operating in line with your values, life just simply comes together in an easy way. Coaching will give you with the encouragement, momentum, and natural dynamics to operate more efficiently and effectively. You cannot get more hours in the day, but if you have more energy, you will get more done and feel great!

SPEED. You will be more effective. Through planning and strategizing, you will be able to eliminate ineffective methods and enhance those methods that are most natural to supporting you in reaching your goals quicker.

PRODUCTIVITY. You will simply get more done. Coaching will keep your goals clear and in line with your vision. Next, it ensures that what you are doing is important to furthering the bottom line, not just want is urgent, easy or obvious. Then, the regular accountability provides a structure that will keep you moving forward, so you can really get it all done.

RESULTS. Through regular coaching and consistent follow-up, you will increase your bottom-line results. Profits. Clients. Personal Passions. Weight Lose. Whatever your objective is, coaching is a strategic partnership to support you in getting what you want as quickly as possible. If you are ready and motivated, you can actually double what you accomplish in a period of time.

SUCCESS. You will be more successful. Through keeping focused on what you want, the goals and the plan, coaching helps you keep the big picture in mind while you implement the small steps. While focusing on the goals, coaching monitors the balance in your whole life, so you are not distracted with life pulls but have all the elements of your life complimenting your actions. Before you know it, your goal is complete!

The Bottom Line

WHY WORK WITH A COACH?

The #1 reason to hire a coach is to have a strategic partner to THINK IT THROUGH. Your family is not neutral and does not necessarily have the ability to give constructive feedback. Your boss, up-line or co-worker are also not neutral and may have the same blind side that you do. Your friends only want to hear so much about your work and few are willing to spend hours planning with you. The most common misconception of coaching is that it's for people who are struggling and need help. While coaching can help these people too, we are not talking about people who NEED help. In order to be successful everyone needs to stop, think it through and plan.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christy_Geiger/2434143

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Wonderful-Benefits-of-Coaching&id=10241714

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10241714

Russell Brand On Being Lazy!

Matthew McConaughey | 5 Minutes for the NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE

Meditation and Breathing - Suggestions for Beginners

Years ago, during a rough patch in life, I started seeing a behavioral psychologist to deal with some anxiety issues and insomnia. Part of his sessions often consisted of a guided meditation, where he would speak to me in gentle tones while I lay on the sofa, breathing deeply. The meditations were probably a good 20 minutes or so, and frankly, I wondered if perhaps these sessions were just a way for my therapist to get a break from listening to my life nonsense, but I found them very relaxing and left afterwards feeling calm and refreshed, two feelings that didn't come naturally to me.

After one session, my therapist complimented me on my breathing. He noted that I could slow my breath down and take very long, deep breaths that helped me reach a different state. Higher consciousness? Maybe. Calm and relaxed? Definitely, at least during and for a bit after the meditation. He asked if I had learned this somewhere. I told him about the years I had spent taking Kundalini Yoga from a prominent LA teacher. It wasn't daily training, just a class or two a week with a bunch of other students in a studio or in the instructor's living room.

"Breath of Fire" (very rapid in and out breath through the nose and controlled by the diaphragm) and techniques that included filling your lungs with as much air as possible (or blowing ALL the air out of your lungs and keeping them empty - always much harder), and then doing yoga while holding the air in or out is the kind of training that can improve breathing technique. There were also gong meditations, lying on your back, eyes closed, and breathing deeply while the instructor bangs on a large gong, which you hear as well as feel (sound waves) for the duration of the meditation.

My therapist then suggested, that as a massage therapist and massage therapy instructor, I might also teach people how to breathe. So, with that in mind, here are a few thoughts for those of you who want to incorporate a meditation practice into your life to reap its proven positive benefits, including:

· When to meditate and how often

· Creating a good mediation environment

· What you need to meditate

· Mantra or no mantra?

· Deep breathing techniques

· Clearing the mind (what to think about... or not)

· Benefits of Mediation

· "Mindfulness." What does it really mean?

1. PICK A GOOD TIME AND START SMALL

Did you know that the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree (ficus religiosa in Latin, which sounds like a Hermoine spell from Harry Potter) with the intention of remaining there until he achieved enlightenment? How long he actually sat is not entirely clear, but may have been weeks. Without food.

Good news: you don't need to do that.

Start small. Most people who meditate "religiously" (it is spiritual, sometimes, but not necessarily religious, although even the Big 3 religions refer to silent or personal prayer as "meditation") do so in the morning upon waking (and some do, in fact, get up at 4:30 for "sadna," a pre-dawn meditation practiced by some Sikhs, when the spiritual energy is supposed to b especially strong), and then again in the late afternoon or early evening (before or after dinner is great).

Deep breathing before bed is a good way to relax, but a full meditation right before bed is not advisable because that might trick your body and brain into thinking you've slept enough already. And while early morning meditation seem to be fantastic for many, be realistic about yourself. Don't make yourself get up at 5 or 6 to meditate if you hate getting up early. Do it when it's convenient and easy for you, and then you'll be more likely to keep doing it!

As for meditating for a week (or more) without food and water like the Buddha, this isn't recommended for beginners or even the experienced. For most people, 15-20 minutes is a good session, but even five minutes is beneficial, and some long-time practitioners will do longer mediations. Starting out, five minutes is a good number because it's easy to accomplish and will also give a novice a taste of the positive benefits. Try that for a few days, or a week, then move to 10 minutes, 15 minutes and finally 20 minutes. For me, and most meditators, 20 minutes seems to be the sweet spot.

2. BEST PLACES TO MEDITATE

Experienced meditators can meditate in an airport, a subway station, or a Trump campaign rally. But most prefer a quiet, not-too-bright location. Light is not an issue, but many find a darkened or dimly lit room (candlelight is great) more calming. Of course, the Buddha meditated outside, and many enjoy doing so on a stump in the woods or a rock on a mountain top or the sand on the beach. Whatever the locale, complete quiet (or soothing music or nature sounds) is best.

Thich Nhat Hanh famously says he does walking meditations in airports and on crowded city streets to the bemusement of the locals. Some meditation styles say to keep the eyes slightly open and focus on a space a few inches in front of your eyes. I'm of the "eye's wide shut," school. Experiment for yourself.

3. EQUIPMENT FOR MEDITATION

No special equipment is needed. All you need is you and a place to sit or lie down. Most meditate sitting up with a good, grounded posture. Lying down is fine, although it is easy to fall asleep this way, and sleeping is not meditating. Deep breathing is not a nap. Not that there's anything wrong with a nap.

You might like a pillow to sit on. Some meditators prefer to sit up straight with a good posture, while others lean against a wall or cushion behind them, and might even meditate in a chair or couch. Some Buddhists use a flat, cushioned mat, and on that another pillow that is shaped kind of like a chocolate layer cake, maybe 8-10 inches across. Sitting on this cushion, with legs crossed on the mat or in a kneeling position, can feel very stable and comfortable.

Some sit in lotus or half lotus (cross legged with one ankle on the opposite knee for half lotus or both ankles on the opposite knee for full lotus). This is not easy for many, and even those who can sit this way will find that after a few minutes the foot gets uncomfortable or falls asleep. The main things to achieve in sitting position are comfort, so you are not distracted by discomfort, and good posture. Whatever position allows this, including lying down, is fine.

Candles, incense and music can enhance meditation. If you want music, it is best to listen to something non-melodic, like chimes or bells or random flute and nature sounds. Or nothing. Music with words or melody or rhythm is distracting and should be avoided. Nature sounds, like the ocean or a stream or rain can be wonderful, especially if you live in an urban area with traffic sounds, sirens, people's music, garbage trucks, etc., because the sounds can help mute the environmental aural clutter.

A great investment is a kitchen timer. You can also use a timer on your smart phone (or even your dumb phone if you don't have a smart one). I use a kitchen timer that I got before smart phones were a thing. I punch in the amount of time I want to meditate (usually 20 minutes, although I add a minute to allow myself time to settle in), and that's it. Why a timer? Then you don't need to check the clock. And when you start out, you'll want to check the clock a lot, and when you do, after feeling like you've meditated for a half-hour and look to see it's been under four minutes, you'll see what's so great about a timer.

4. MANTRA OR NO MANTRA?

Good question. I've tried both. Kundalini practitioners use, among other mantras, "ong namo gurudev namo," which means "I bow to the teacher within me." I like that because it feels non-religious. And there are tons of others. You don't need to know what they mean, because it's really about the saying or thinking of the mantra. The sound. The repetition. It helps you get in the right mindset. Not knowing the meaning is probably better. Those reared on praying in Hebrew or Latin might agree.

Remember: if you are a religious person and don't feel comfortable taking part in religious ceremonies other than your own, mantras are not prayers. Some do sound like prayers, however. If this is an issue for you, either find a mantra that is completely secular, or repeat a short prayer from your own religious practice.

Some orgainized meditation movements or groups have been around for decades and cost a good deal of money. One had gone up to almost $2,500 (to get your personalized mantra and training), but now is more like $1000. I know people who have done this for 40 years and swear by it. Howard Stern, King of All Media, is a life-long practitioner (following his parents' lead) and says it's one of the best things he ever did and he practices every day. If you have the money and want to go that route, great. If not, do a Google search and I'm guessing you can easily find a mantra hack you can use, for free. Don't tell anyone I told you this.

I never paid for a mantra. I have chanted with members of the Buddhist Church of America (associated with the Buddhist Church of Japan), and they chant through the entire meditation (the well-known "nam-myoho-renge-kyo"). It was a nice experience, sitting in a room with 20 people at someone's house, chanting, but it wasn't my cup of green tea. I found it too much work to keep up the chanting and it didn't help me focus the way I liked. So I never went back, even though the people were nice and the after-meditation refreshments were delicious.

But you don't need to be Buddhist to meditate, and many Buddhist groups welcome practitioners of all faiths. While I sometimes use a mantra to get started, my main mantra is my breath, which I will describe next. If you want a mantra, the books of the great Buddhist monk and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh are full of what he calls "gathas" or little poems that work well. Most were written in Vietnamese, but he has translated them to French and English. My favorite also uses breathing, and goes like this:

Breathing in, I calm my body

Breathing out, I smile

Breathing in, I dwell in the present moment

Breathing out, I know it is a wonderful moment

Nice, right? Not a prayer. You do this with in-breath and out-breath for a few minutes. No need to say (or think) this through the entire meditation. Eventually, you can shorten it to "In - calm, out - smile, in - present moment, out- wonderful moment." And follow the breath and smile when you say it.

In fact, Thich Nhat Hanh points out that most renditions of the Buddha show him smiling in meditation, and that you should always smile when meditating. Not only does this relax the muscles in your face, but it also makes you feel good. Yes, smiling even when you feel bad makes you feel good. He also says meditation is wonderful so you should smile. If you can't smile when meditating, when can you?

5. BREATHING TECHNIQUE

This brings us to the most important thing, breathing. Meditation is breathing; breathing is meditation. Breathing is taking in air and then letting it out. You breathe in by contracting your diaphragm. Outbreath happens when your diaphragm relaxes. The elasticity of your lungs and diaphragm brings them back to an at-rest position, pushing out the air. Your body does this by itself (so you can keep breathing in your sleep), but you can control it to an extent. What we want to do in meditation or deep breathing is slow the breath down and take in as much air as possible without straining. You want a deep breath, not a strained breath.

Sitting (or lying) comfortably, take slow, long breaths, but don't push it. Keep it relaxed. Breathe only through your nose (of course, if you have a cold, mouth-breathing is fine, and some meditation techniques call for exhalation through the mouth). Use your usual breath to start, and keep increasing the length of each breath by taking the air in a little deeper with each inhale. When exhaling, do the same. Slow down the exhale and try to let out most of your breath before inhaling again. Remember, don't push or strain or control. Just deepen and lengthen the breath.

This can be done while saying a mantra if you are using one (breathe in and exhale the mantra), or just while thinking the mantra, or gatha, in your mind. Eventually, you will just be breathing and not even thinking about the mantra, or about anything.

The best thing to do (which also helps clear the mind) is to focus on two things: your abdomen pushing out with each inhale and pulling in with the exhale (right around and just under your navel, the area referred to as "dan-tien" in some Eastern teachings, which also just happens to be the anatomical center of the body), and also focus on the cool feeling of air entering your nostrils near the tip of your nose.

Focusing on these two physical sensations will keep you from holding on too long to thoughts that come and go during the meditation. Thoughts like, "did I remember to buy milk" (or soy milk if you're a Vegan). And speaking of thoughts...

6. CLEARING THE MIND

We are creatures of thought. We think all the time. Even asleep. Even when doing something absorbing (like watching a movie or talking to a friend), we might suddenly remember we left the stove on. This is part of being human.

Contrary to popular perception, meditation or deep breathing doesn't require an empty mind. Thoughts and ideas will come to you while meditating. Some may even be inspirational. You could get an idea for a hit song, in which case, stop meditating, write down the song, and start again. Don't give up a top-40 hit single just because you're a disciplined meditator!

When a thought like "maybe I'll have Chinese food tonight" or "My coworker Michael is such an a-hole" enters, that's fine. Acknowledge the thought, hold it to your heart, and let it go. Back to your breath. To the feeling of your abdomen rising and falling, the cool air entering your nostrils. The thought will go away as surely as it came. And another will enter to be acknowledged and released. This is part of the process. If you get stuck on a thought, go back to your breath. If it's really hard, try counting your breaths, 1 to 10, and then going in reverse. If you're doing a good job, you'll never get all the way through to 10. That's great. Just start again.

Once you've been doing this for a while, you will find that the mind does clear, that thoughts come less often and are of shorter duration. You may be able to have that experience of "leaving the body," where you feel exactly as though you are outside of yourself, looking down from above or from across the room at yourself meditating. Another experience is of going deep within yourself, to feel the center of your mind. It's almost like a control center, deep within the brain, where your consciousness resides. Is this a real place? Probably not. But it feels like it. It's like riding in a space capsule in the universe of your consciousness. Whoa.

7. BENEFITS OF MEDITATION AND DEEP BREATHING

There have been many studies worldwide that show meditation and deep breathing to be very beneficial. The effects and benefits become more pronounced and profound cumulatively, as the practice builds on itself. Just know that the benefits have been shown to help with hypertension, insomnia, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, pain management, and even side-effects of cancer treatments, as well as addiction and rehabilitation. And that's a very short list.

Some meditation teachers including Thich Nhat Hanh encourage people to form a sangha or community of a few people who can meditate together. Guided meditation classes are available all over. Yoga studios often have yoga classes or guided sessions, as do many schools and houses of worship. For beginners, meditating with a group can be instructive, enjoyable, and easier than starting alone.

Another way to go is guided meditation apps or CDs or DVDs or downloads. There are great (instructive and guided) on YouTube. Please see Resources, below, for one example.

Just remember, there is no one way to meditate. Do what feels right to you. You'll only do it regularly if it makes sense to you and feels good. Where you do it, alone or with people, the time of day or evening, music or no music, mantra or no mantra, sitting or lying down -- go with your instincts and feelings. Whatever works best, is best.

8. MINDFULNESS

Currently, the most over-used term in the "whole being" world is "mindfulness." Everything is mindful these days, from shopping to uncoupling. Or is that conscious? No matter. It's a bit much. There's even a "mindful dating" sight. Aaaauuugghhh! I first heard the term in the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh (many years ago), and that for me is the real meaning. It means being present. Here. Now. Aware. Focused on what you're doing.

If you're eating an orange, be mindful of the skin as you peel it, the texture of the fruit, the juiciness, the sweetness as you bite, the feel of the little sacs of juice on your tongue. Chew slowly and for a long time to thoroughly grind the fruit and taste it before swallowing.

Thich Nhat Hanh says, if you're washing the dishes, WASH THE DISHES. Focus on what you're doing, what it feels like, and doing it well. Don't wash the dishes and think about what's on TV later. Just wash the dishes. This is mindfulness. And if you are mindful enough, you can meditate WHILE washing the dishes or eating the orange. This is the true meaning of mindfulness.

This is not work. It is supposed to be enjoyable. It is supposed to feel good. It is not a chore. It is not like "oh I better work out today or I'll get fat," or something that we need to do rather than want to do. So smile when you do it, and try to do it every day, or twice a day.

You need not spend too much time. And you will find after a short period of time (it varies with the individual, but I would say within a month) that it is easy to do and that you don't want to miss it. And when that happens, you will understand why so many people worldwide have made meditation part of their daily routine, and why so many doctors, therapists and others involved in physical and emotional health feel that meditation is one of the best ways to achieve true wellness and peace.

Breathe in peace, health and happiness. Breathe out anxiety, illness and sadness. And be well!

The author has had a meditation practice for many years, starting with Kundalini yoga. He learned more from the writings of Vietnamese Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, and has participated in retreats at the Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, CA. Paul is not a Buddhist by faith, nor is he affiliated in any way with Deer Park or Plum Village. Nonetheless, Paul has found the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh to be the best source of information on these topics. Please try this guided mediation if you are interested, although many more are available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW66B_aGuiA

Paul's company, Massage U and U-selfcare.com, is committed to creating and finding self-care products like the Roleo Arm Massager for the treatment and prevention of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and other chronic hand and wrist conditions. The Massage U team's many years of massage therapy and health care experience provide confidence that the products offered, and the information shared, has been carefully reviewed and tested. Our categories are: U-selfcare, U-fitness, U-eat and U-wear.

We believe that many chronic pain conditions, which can cause people much pain and disability, loss of income and inability to take part in activities, can be controlled or even eliminated by proper self-care, including good nutrition, fitness, emotional and spiritual practice (i.e. meditation, therapy, etc.). And when we are practicing proper self-care, we can better serve others, hence our last category, U-care.

For people with hand and wrist pain from repetitive strain at work or hobbies, the Roleo Arm Massager offers an effective, low-cost, easy-to-use option to help prevent and ease these symptoms. You can see these and other find self-care products at http://www.u-selfcare.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paul_Kleiman/2286495

https://ezinearticles.com/?Meditation-and-Breathing---Suggestions-for-Beginners&id=9422842

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9422842

What's Stopping You From Dreaming Big

This was taken right around the time that my big dream to move to California was born. This was on a family trip to Disneyland & Universal Studios in California when I was 8 years old. At the time I was reading the Sweet Valley High books - remember those?! - where Jessica and Elizabeth lived in Malibu and drove around in a red convertible Fiat!! "THAT sounds amazing", I thought!!!

And so the dream was formed!

Funny enough my Mom found some of my old journals recently, where I had written down what I wanted to do when I grew up. Helping poor people and owning the Humane Society were written down. I was watching a TON of those commercials where the German Sheppard was basically crying, and they went on to tell us how much he'd been abused:(

I remember thinking that I was going to own all of the dogs in the world and live on a huge fenced in lot by the beach in Malibu, where people would have to be interviewed by me to see if they were fit to own a dog!

Some things never change. You can count on me to always let you know what is fair and what is not. I'm working on that...

What is that dream deep inside of you that's pulling at your heart strings? Read today's article below to learn where I landed on my dreams, what tends to get in the way of people making their dreams come true, and that it's absolutely okay to course correct along the way!

What's Stopping you from Dreaming Big?
See if you can tune into what you were wanting to do when you were little. I had the memory of California and the humane society, but I didn't realize I had also said that I wanted to help poor people! I remember saying in grade 6 (so age 11ish), that I wanted to either be a lawyer or a model, but not that part.

Well I definitely believe I'm doing my part to help poor people - I'm going to reframe that into helping people live abundant lives! - but the latter - the dog part - came about in a really interesting way!

And no, I don't own the humane society or all of the dogs in the world!

BUT I did work with a client once who is a K9 trainer who helps medics around the world care for the dogs who are on the job. Think guys jumping out of helicopters and landing on jet skis - she helps those types of handlers! Her training has helped to save countless animals, and as we worked on growing her business she was able to help even more dogs and people. When I was working with her awhile back, the realization set in that I was actually helping to make a difference in dogs' lives. It was a cool realization.

Throughout my childhood, whenever I felt "sad" I would think of going "home", which to me was palm trees, sunshine and the ocean. I'm not sure where this came from, but it was there. Like a knowing.

And being able to manifest something like that - that was such a big dream for me - has truly become my purpose - showing others we absolutely can be, do and have anything in life! We truly are limitless!

So what gets in the way?

Well a couple of things.

I do remember dating someone once and I shared with his parents that I wanted to help animals. I was pretty much shamed because they said there were so many people to help and why would I help animals instead?

Hmmm...

Insert doubt. I pretty much felt like a bad person for wanting to do that.

How often do we listen to other people and then talk ourselves right out of something as a result?

Don't get me wrong, feedback and validation are important, but not when it works against our dreams! Not when it talks us out of going after what lies in our hearts.

Our desires are given to us for a reason. It's how we know what our purpose is.

Most people spend tons of time and money trying to figure out their purpose, but we already have the answer inside of us if we would listen. It's our heart's desires, it's what makes us happy and what brings us joy. All we need to do is follow that and let it the rest unfold.

Which brings me to another reason people don't follow their dreams. They can't see "how" their dreams will happen and so they give up. This is one of the biggest areas to let go of in order to use the law of attraction to manifest our dreams and desires. It's not up to us! Look at the K9 medic story! I never could have dreamt that up in a million years!

Which leads me to it being okay to course correct. Our childhood and adulthood desires might look a little different, and that's okay.

I remember a friend saying to me once that I didn't actually make it to Malibu, but I was close! At least that's how I heard her say it anyway.

If we're being that knit picky we've lost sight of the whole thing. The dream was palm trees and the ocean in California, to which I achieved. I consciously chose which area I wanted to be in after living in California for 4 years. We visited San Diego a few times and absolutely loved it and the more laid-back lifestyle. It's what worked for us (insert also thinking about husbands and kids too - which I definitely didn't have at 8 years old;-)

It's absolutely okay to course correct and adapt your dreams as you go. I never would have thought I would be paid to be a speaker or start a second business in real estate investing when I first started my entrepreneurial efforts!

If we're shown the entire picture all at once it would be wayyy too overwhelming to bring to fruition anyway. But if we keep saying yes, one step at a time, to what brings us joy and what we're interested in, we will always be on track with creating a happy and purposeful life!

We just have to go for it!

xoxo

P.S. I don't know about you, but I have been so tired these last few days. I think something to do with a full moon?? Anyway, as I was sitting down to write this article it felt like pulling teeth. I didn't know how I was going to do it. But as I got started, I was reenergized writing about this topic. I got so excited writing about manifesting our dreams that I got a total energy burst! Another sure sign that we're on track with doing what we love ?

Chris Atley is an award winning coach, speaker and bestselling author. She has been featured on various media outlets such as Bloomberg Radio, Fox, ABC and the Manhattan Neighborhood Network.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Chris_Atley/249884

https://ezinearticles.com/?Whats-Stopping-You-From-Dreaming-Big&id=10295416

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10295416

Les Brown - Your Mind is the Key to Your Success (Les Brown Motivation)

3 Tips to Get Organized

Are you dealing with clutter in your space? Have you told yourself recently that you need to throw away things in your home/office? Did you find yourself spending an enormous amount of time last year trying to remember where you placed things?

This is the year to get organized. You owe it to yourself to go through this year having better mental and physical energy. When you get organized, you will increase your productivity and your peace of mind.

This is a lesson I started to consciously live a few years ago. Recently, I was reviewing one of my professional development books where I was reminded again of this lesson. In theory, it's good to do. In reality, it can be hard to do. However, if you follow these three tips, you will find the strength to get organized this year:

1. Throw away as much as you can: It isn't necessary to hold onto information you can get from someone else (e.g. co-worker, colleague, family member) or somewhere else (e.g. archives, Internet, shared drives). Consult those places, if and when, you need the information. For things you haven't worn or used in three plus years, you can donate them to family, friends or charity.

2. Keep what you use often within easy reach: It's important to not waste time looking for things, such as, your phone, that report, file, stapler, Post-it® Notes, pen, or computer. If you use it regularly, it should be where you can get to it easily.

3. Use a calendar system to track your major priorities and responsibilities: I'm sure you're like me. You find there are times in your day, week, month, and year where you have many things to do but only so much brain power to remember to do it. This tip will help you to remember the most important priorities and responsibilities you want to get accomplished. Use a wall calendar, desk calendar, yearly planner, The Happy Journal, Outlook, or your mobile device. Whatever you decide to use, make sure it works for your style. Making it visible increases your chances of getting it done.

What are your thoughts? Have you used any of these tips consistently? What type of results did you achieve?

This is a brand new year and I know you want more from it. You have goals to achieve and things you want to accomplish. Therefore, use these three tips as part of your plan to get organized!

In the world of inspiration and motivation, there is no other like Cassandra "D.I.V.A. of Dialog™" Lee. She is a leadership speaker who uses "Divine Inspiration Vocally Applied™" to help her audiences achieve workplace satisfaction and career success. To get a FREE copy of her special report, "101 Ways to Have a Rewarding Career," sign-up on her website at https://www.divaofdialog.com.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Cassandra_R._Lee/74473

https://ezinearticles.com/?3-Tips-to-Get-Organized&id=10234319
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10234319

Dream - Motivational Video

How Are You Influenced and Motivated?

Negative motivators are those influences that drive us to certain and specific actions; based on a fear of some kind and maybe dislike of a certain outcome. The negative motivator may even be related an apprehension around the result; of the outcome which our inaction, or failure to undertake a specific task or fulfil an obligation; generates.

Positive motivators on the others side of the equation are those influencers which hold a desirable image, emotion or effect in our minds or habit nature.

These are interactions we know that, when completed successfully will add value to the quality of our lives, may even enhance our current situations, bring about a wonderful effect to our circumstances, or even progress us in one way or another.

These positive motivators also are borne of the understanding that when completed they will bring a better harmony, a peaceful effect to the environment, workplace or home... where we find ourselves investing in productive endeavour.

Know What Effects The Difference

The primary difference between how we perceive the difference between the two motivator categories is our freedom of choice.

Where we have negative experiences manifesting from specific actions such as, a loss, being reprimanded, receiving criticism or even a sense of discord within ourselves. We mentally and emotionally create an automatic associate between our actions and those negative connotations; and therefore, the outcome of these effects become negative motivators.

In this regard there may even be certain actions or undertakings that we really enjoyed doing; however, after repeated criticism, perhaps being mocked by the uninformed, or even receiving a reprimand, we lose our enthusiasm or joy derived and we begin to categorize these as negative.

However, with positive motivators these are thoughts, ideas, desires that let us to place ourselves above the pessimistic viewpoints of the average, beyond our current reality into a state that is future focused on the benefits and abundance attached to the enthusiastic completion of said action.

What we begin to understand is that in fact the primary difference between the two motivator categories is that it is actually our own personal approach to the specific action: our perception, our energy, our enthusiasm, our thoughts, our feelings... OUR ATTITUDE; which will decide the key differences between how the two opposite motivators influence and affect us moving forward.

A fundamental understanding that we need to resonate with, a key success minded attitude we need to adopt is: knowing that everything we do, every action we take, every thought we allow to enter our minds has the capacity to take us closer towards our desired outcomes or take us further than we had previously envisaged!

Maximizing Your Potential

'Efficient Action' and 'Acting in the Certain Way' as articulated by Wallace D Wattles in his book The Science of Getting Rich, educates us in the understanding that everything has purpose and a potential attached to it, and we need to grow out of our current situation by completing everything we do in a certain way... i.e. as a positive motivator!

This may prove to be a highly challenging prospect which leads us into conflict with our existing paradigm. Nonetheless when we begin to internalize our focus on where we are and where we are progressing to, aligned with the potential we have within us waiting to be expressed, then the influences of others or the feared outcomes do not have a bearing in our applications or responsibility.

What Choices Are Making?

So, as we continue to re-assess every action as one that will grow us, we experience an emotional and mental evolution that perpetuates like effects and like results! The ongoing perpetuation of the good allows us a resilience to reject what we do not want and a continued focus on what we do want!

So, what we close with, when we are increasing our understanding of what our specific motivators are, is that our freedom of choice will in fact decide what class any future exchanges will fall into. Our freedom of choice is a phenomenal gift that is given to us free at birth, but it is also one we give up too freely and too readily!

A simple story that illustrates this is the parable of the talents as related to us in the bible [Matthew 25:14-30].

When we assess this parable, we see that the key difference in the approaches discussed.

The fear of punishment, the fear of loss, the fear of failure and the fear of reprimand led to inaction which in turn resulted in a negative result as well as the manifestation of all the fears; for the one servant. Yet, on the opposite end of the spectrum the servants that took their responsibility seriously with a positive motivator reaped their own specific rewards.

In the case of all three... they all had the potential for the same consequences and in the instance of two of them there was a risk of greater loss therefore more severe consequences.

Let us choose to take action in an efficient and certain way so that our gifts increase through action taken with positive motivation!

At invinciblemind, we believe in the unlimited potential of the mind and are striving to share the life-changing effects of a renewed mind!

Learn how to Unleash Your Ultimate Potential with invinciblemind... Your future self will thank you for the immense decision!

https://invinciblemind.site/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Allan_Smith/1988300

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-Are-You-Influenced-and-Motivated?&id=10286176

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10286176

Daily Habits of Successful People | Brian Tracy

2 Hours in the Morning Will Put You in 2% Club!

Do you set up yourself for failure every morning? If you hit snooze over and over again, yes you do, yet you didn't know till now. Two years ago, I was in your situation. It was my dream to be a successful person, you know, kinds of people who always look motivated and get things done in no time. I always knew waking up early would change my life, but the problem was not waking up early, it was sleeping early.

As you can relate, I thought I didn't have what it takes to have an amazing morning routine that over a couple of years it will transform to a success story. It was just a dream that I wanted, yes it was, not anymore!

Are these statements familiar to you?

• I'll wake up early tomorrow

• I've slept late, so I should sleep more.

• I don't do anything useful in the mornings anyways, so why should I wake up early?

• I'm just not the right person for growth and success, I lack the discipline.

If you relate to one of these or all and are nodding your head, this guide will definitely save you from the struggle.

I'll not even mention agonizing impacts of wasting your mornings because you're living them. Let's start with the benefits and how those benefits will change your life in better way.

The first and the best one, waking up early will give you mental strength. Probably, you're saying, "I wake up early every day for work/school and there's no mental advantage!". Okay, I've got a few questions for you: what do you do when you wake up? Go through your emails? Or social media? Or in rush to be on time for your work/school? Another question: what do you do for yourself? To have mental strength, you should work on yourself. According to a study contacted by the American Psychological Association having a good routine in the beginning of the day will reduce your depression, anxiety and stress. More than that, it will increase your satisfaction level which will become happiness.

Second, a good beginning routine will provide you physical benefits. For instance, I do a hundred pushups after I wake up (of course it's not the only exercise I do during the whole day), which skyrockets my energy for the day. I'm not suggesting you to do pushups, you can practice yoga or even go for a walk. Another physical benefit of having a good morning routine is consuming less calories. I made an experiment with a group of twenty people, ten of us slept late for the next month, on the other hand, the rest slept early. As a result, late sleepers ended eating more because when you sleep late you get hungry that's why you tend to eat more which over the years become obesity.

Third, a good beginning always provides spiritual rewards. Visualizing your success does give you inner peace. I remember myself visualizing working as a freelancer and making enough money to travel while working. And that gave me enough motivation every day to work towards my ambitions, thus, my relationships with people became better both at home and at work. When you work for what you visualize today, in some time you'll make it reality. Of course, practicing visualization is not the only way to have inner peace. Meditation, journaling or listing what you're grateful for will help as well.

Of course, there're many other benefits of waking up early, but in my opinion, those which are above are dominant to other benefits. What else will you ask for if you're mentally strong, healthy as a model and peaceful with yourself, right?

I hope you're ready to build your own amazing morning routine! No, don't say, "but I'm not a morning person". Everything starts in your mind, so change your mindset and be positive on waking up early. "Beliefs we've that are so deeply embedded that we don't even realize they guide our attitudes and behaviors", said author Ramit Sethi. In simpler words, what you believe is your reality. So, you better start believing the you're an early bird.

Your morning routine doesn't start in the morning; it starts the night before. Here are five things you need to do to develop a habit from 'Habit Starter Checklist' written by Rob Norback. First, always remind yourself the habit that you want to create, in this case it's waking up early. Second, break it down to small pieces to make it easier and doable, make a decision of routine in regards to your new habit. For example, what activities you'll include in your morning routine. Third, know what rewards it will bring to you. How I did this, I wrote how creating and following a morning routine will make my life better on a piece of paper and read it every day. Fourth, visualize your success with your morning routine. Finally, record the progress, it will definitely encourage you to keep going.

If you're having issues with sleeping because of stress, anxiety and uncertainty (worrying about future) of future, like I had in the past. I highly recommend you to write down negative thoughts like these on a piece of paper, then fold it and tear it apart, finally throw it away. By doing this, you kick out your negative thoughts from your head and you physically do something to them which is extremely relieving.

Other helpful activity to relax before sleep; deep breathing, silence your inner voice, so it won't be bothering you; think about good things, read a book, write diary or look forwards to an amazing night sleep. There's no a certain way to get relaxed before sleep, you can find which one works for you by trying them.

It's time to chase your dreams and since day starts in the morning, you need to have a good morning routine. Start off with encouraging yourself, I believe this is the first thing you should do in the morning. 'Today is going to be the most productive day of my life' this is what I say to myself when I wake up. You can find different ones for yourself such as 'I'll be on my best today', you got the idea.

Every time I wake and encourage myself, I get out of the bed and start doing pushups right away, of course, there're plenty of other exercises you can do. For instance, sit ups, walking, jogging, even dancing, do whatever you want to for approximately twenty minutes that fills you with energy.

Cold water is the enemy of sleep if you can take a cold shower then go for it, however, if not, just wash your face with cold water. Feel awake? Now, tell what you're grateful for, you can make a list of it if you wish. Here is what I am grateful for:

• Being able to wake up

• Living the life that I've always dreamt of

• Exercising

• Yummy breakfast

• Friend

• Going to cinema and spending a great time with my partner

• Being able to finish my projects on time

Read them all out loud (of course, yours will be different), by doing this you hack your brain that you're a successful person, therefore, more achievements coming for you today.

Take your time when creating your morning routine, creating my current morning routine took two years for me. At the beginning, I set up my alarm clock to 5 a.m. and I believed that it'll give me more energy and productivity. By contrast, it gave me nothing but sleepiness, when you do something gradually your chances of success are more likely. Let's say you normally wake up at 6 a.m. next day wake up at 5:45. Then, gradually continue to your wake up time goal with setting your alarm clock 15 to 30 minutes earlier. In short, start small, be persistent and you'll achieve your goal wake up time.

As I've said before, take your time, I didn't build my winning morning habit in a day but in two years. Don't put too much to your morning routine when you're at the beginning, I did that mistake. I read books, meditated, exercised, worked; however, it didn't fulfill me with happiness and I thought of giving up many times. Build your perfect morning routine gradually, for example, exercise, after exercising becomes a habit read a book after exercise. You don't get the whole building in a day, you build it and it takes time.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ahmet_Meliksah_Akdeniz/2758352

.https://ezinearticles.com/?2-Hours-in-the-Morning-Will-Put-You-in-2%-Club!&id=10245284

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10245284

The power of vulnerability | Brené Brown

One Life, No Regrets

Arnold Schwarzenegger Motivation - 6 rules of success speech - with subtitles [HD]