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Focus: Be Willing
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Welcome to the Fifteenth Edition of MotivateUs.com's
Newsletter
My Dear Friend,
Today I would like to highlight a few of traits we all have, though
sometimes we doubt ourselves. These traits are courage, determination and
perseverance. Yes, they are there, hidden in our hearts and souls waiting
to be summoned at just the right time.
Have you ever been afraid? So afraid that you weren't sure what to do? I
know I have and I am sure I will be again. And I know, I will be able to
handle anything that comes my way because I, just like you, have
everything I need right inside of me.
It's so easy for us to doubt ourselves and today, I ask you to
consciously look at yourself in the mirror and remind the person looking
back that you can cut it, you can do it and that you will get through
everything.
Will it be easy? Maybe, but probably not. This is what life is about;
constant tests to see what we are made of. Life tests us each day to help
us discover what we have learned first hand and from others and whether
or not we are applying the lessons in the best way possible.
So sit back for a few minutes, relax and take in all that is presented,
remembering that you are brave, courageous and determined to be the best
you can be each and every day.
Thank you again for all of the comments and suggestions - keep them
coming :-)
Something I'd Like To Share:
The Four Emotions That Can Lead to Life Change
Emotions are the
most powerful forces inside us. Under the power of emotions, human beings
can perform the most heroic (as well as barbaric) acts.
To a great degree, civilization itself can be defined as the intelligent
channeling of human emotion. Emotions are fuel and the mind is the pilot,
which together propel the ship of civilized progress.
Which emotions cause people to act?
There are four basic ones; each, or a combination of several, can trigger
the most incredible activity. The day that you allow these emotions to
fuel your desire is the day you'll turn your life around.
1) DISGUST - One does not usually equate the word "disgust" with
positive action. And yet properly channeled, disgust can change a
person's life. The person who feels disgusted has reached a point of no
return. He or she is ready to throw down the gauntlet at life and say,
"I've had it!"
That's what I said after many humiliating experiences at age 25, I said.
"I don't want to live like this anymore. I've had it with being broke.
I've had it with being embarrassed, and I've had it with lying."
Yes, productive feelings of disgust come when a person says, "Enough is
enough."
The "guy" has finally had it with mediocrity. He's had it with those
awful sick feelings of fear, pain and humiliation. He then decides he is
not going to live like this anymore." Look out! This could be the day
that turns a life around.
Call it what you will, the "I've had it" day, the "never again" day, the
"enough's enough" day. Whatever you call it, it's powerful! There is
nothing so life-changing as gut-wrenching disgust!
2) DECISION - Most of us need to be pushed to the wall to make
decisions. And once we reach this point, we have to deal with the
conflicting emotions that come with making them. We have reached a fork
in the road. Now this fork can be a two-prong, three-prong, or even a
four-prong fork. No wonder that decision-making can create knots in
stomachs, keep us awake in the middle of the night, or make us break out
in a cold sweat.
Making life-changing decisions can be likened to internal civil war.
Conflicting armies of emotions, each with its own arsenal of reasons,
battle each other for supremacy of our minds. And our resulting
decisions, whether bold or timid, well thought out or impulsive, can
either set the course of action or blind it. I don't have much advice to
give you about decision-making except this:
Whatever you do, don't camp at the fork in the road. Decide. It's far
better to make a wrong decision than to not make one at all. Each of us
must confront our emotional turmoil and sort out our feelings.
3) DESIRE - How does one gain desire? I don't think I can answer
this directly because there are many ways. But I do know two things about
desire:
a. It comes from the inside not the outside.
b. It can be triggered by outside forces.
Almost anything can trigger desire. It's a matter of timing as much as
preparation. It might be a song that tugs at the heart. It might be a
memorable sermon. It might be a movie, a conversation with a friend, a
confrontation with the enemy, or a bitter experience. Even a book or an
article such as this one can trigger the inner mechanism that will make
some people say, "I want it now!"
Therefore, while searching for your "hot button" of pure, raw desire,
welcome into your life each positive experience. Don't erect a wall to
protect you from experiencing life. The same wall that keeps out your
disappointment also keeps out the sunlight of enriching experiences. So
let life touch you. The next touch could be the one that turns your life
around.
4) RESOLVE - Resolve says, "I will." These two words are among the
most potent in the English language. I WILL. Benjamin Disraeli, the great
British statesman, once said, "Nothing can resist a human will that will
stake even its existence on the extent of its purpose." In other words,
when someone resolves to "do or die," nothing can stop him.
The mountain climber says, "I will climb the mountain. They've told me
it's too high, it's too far, it's too steep, it's too rocky, it's too
difficult. But it's my mountain. I will climb it. You'll soon see me
waving from the top or you'll never see me, because unless I reach the
peak, I'm not coming back." Who can argue with such resolve?
When confronted with such iron-will determination, I can see Time, Fate
and Circumstance calling a hasty conference and deciding, "We might as
well let him have his dream. He's said he's going to get there or die
trying."
The best definition for "resolve" I've ever heard came from a schoolgirl
in Foster City, California. As is my custom, I was lecturing about
success to a group of bright kids at a junior high school. I asked, "Who
can tell me what "resolve" means?" Several hands went up, and I did get
some pretty good definitions. But the last was the best.
A shy girl from the back of the room got up and said with quiet
intensity,
"I think resolve means promising yourself you will never give up."
That's it! That's the best definition I've ever heard: PROMISE
YOURSELF YOU'LL NEVER GIVE UP.
Think about it! How long should a baby try to learn how to walk? How long
would you give the average baby before you say, "That's it, you've had
your chance"? You say that's crazy? Of course it is. Any mother would
say, "My baby is going to keep trying until he learns how to walk!" No
wonder everyone walks.
There is a vital lesson in this. Ask yourself, "How long am I
going to work to make my dreams come true?" I suggest you answer, "As
long as it takes."
That's what these four emotions are all about.
--- Copyright © Jim Rohn
--- Submitted by Lauren C. --- N.J.
Jersey
Be sure to visit: The Work Of Jim Rohn
An Article / Story To Ponder:
Begin With A Blank Page
If you could start your life all over
what would be different? What would you change now if you were able to
wave a magic wand and start from scratch? Just imagine you have no ties,
no burdens, no limits, no memories, and no past.
What would your life look like?
If the answer that comes to your mind is different than what you are
doing, why is that? Is it because of someone else's opinion? A spouse, a
parent - or maybe your children?
The ultimate test of your life is to close your eyes and think of
yourself on your deathbed. Lying there, preparing yourself to leave, look
back at your life as you are currently living it.
How do you feel? Are you satisfied you lived completely? Or do you wish
you had done differently? Very few of our senior citizens look back on
their life and say, "I sure wish I had spent more time at the office!"
Nobody says, "I wish I had watched more TV!"
This is what they say. "I wish I had been bolder. I wish I had given
more. I wish I had tried harder to see more, do more and feel more."
People wish that they had lived more.
I, for one, have to admit to a certain amount of holding back on dreams
and goals because of our two boys. As my life progresses I realize there
is no reason to hold back.
We have not been exactly standing still either. We have done our best to
live our dreams. We built a sailboat and sailed for 7 years traveling on
the open ocean. We lived in the snow in Aspen Colorado, and on the beach
in South Carolina. An old brick mill was our home in Long Island, versus
a boat dock in Palm Beach Florida. We are writers of books and music,
actors in the theater, and we home- school the boys. We have built a
horse farm, and businesses! Yet, there is so much more we want to do!
It is a balancing act. We all must have sufficient finances to support a
comfortable lifestyle, (although most of us tend to spend way too much on
that!) Part of this balancing act is understanding what we are passionate
about doing so that work becomes a joy instead of a job.
Is this not a major reason of lost dreams and goals? Many people find
work, call it a job and make a living at it. But they begrudge every
minute of it, going as far as using the job as a reason for playing the
martyr. Find something else!
There are many, many teachers of the attraction philosophies of "making a
life". With as many opportunities today in every field imaginable,
somewhere, something is calling to you.
Another part of the balancing act is to include those around you in frank
and open discussions in what it is you want. I find some of my coaching
clients have kept their wants and needs bottled up inside them forever!
They had already decided for the other person in their lives there was no
interest in whatever it was they themselves wanted to do! How absurd! How
can we possibly know what someone else wants!
Would it not be tragic to spend your life in a big city for 40 years,
working at a job you despise because you thought your spouse liked it,
even though you wanted to live in the country and be a farmer? Then one
day you overhear your spouse tell her best friend all she ever wanted to
do was live in the country? 40 years!
Sure this is a bit far fetched - but you would be amazed at what I
hear!
Make an attempt today to start with a brand new page of your life. Create
your life story how you want it. If there are others in your life to be
involved, have them do the same exercise. Then compare what your notes.
If this matches your current life, congratulations! You are one of the
few. Now make it better.
However, if your written life stories sound like someone completely
different, then you are living a life of conflict.
Here is the good news. Your life is your life. No one can take that away
from you. You are not indentured. You are not a slave. You are free to
go, do, and be whomever you wish.
It might not be easy, but it sure might be worth it. I coach people daily
who are changing their lives. There are so many things to be grateful
for, and so many things open to us. We owe it to all the ones before us
who gave us this opportunity to take advantage of it.
Today.
--- Copyright © 2007 Miami Phillips
Miami Phillips mentors and teaches individuals how to live have a
successful business and personal life. Go to: http://miamiphillips.com
Something To Consider:
DeterminationIn 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling
was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York
with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the
world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to
forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had
never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge.
He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it
could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After
much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington,
an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed
concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be
overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a
wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build
their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a
tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington
was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which
resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so."
"Crazy men and their crazy dreams."
"It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should
be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the
bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap, Washington was never
discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his
mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends,
but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his
hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle
breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the
sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an
idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make
the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of
communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he
wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of
tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but
the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on
his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the
spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the
triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be
defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and
their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by
half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and
devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages
of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that
overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible
goal.
--- Author Unknown
--- Submitted by Ashwin Ganesh --- India
Something To Encourage You:
I Will Never Give UpI will never give up
No matter what the odds are
No matter what people say
No matter how far
I will never give up
If I throw it away time after time
If I am one step behind try after try
If I miss dime after dime
I will never give up
Even when it seems all over
Even when no one else believes
Even when it seems I can go no further
I will never give up
For I know I have strength within
For I know I can persevere
For I know that I can win
I will never give up
Because it's someone else's fault
Because I am settling for good enough
Because I fear that I will fall short
I will never give up
There is so much I can still do
There is too much talent to waste
There is so much in me that I want you to see
I will never give up
Why squander all of my hard work and dedication?
Why not show the world that I am a fearless baller?
Why quit when I still have the opportunity to go on?
I will never give up
If I do, I will not be the best me that could live
If I do, I will never know what I am capable of
If I do, I am not giving the world all I can give
I will never give up
--- Written in 2004 by K.D. --- Oregon
Three Quotes To Motivate You:"There is a certain blend of
courage, integrity, character and principle which has no satisfactory
dictionary name but has been called different things at different times
in different countries. Our American name for it is 'guts'."
--- Louis Adamic
"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly
secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no
longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and
exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is
power."
--- Alan Cohen
"Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500
or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are
much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when
nobody's looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like
standing alone when you're misunderstood."
--- Charles Swindoll
Until Next Time, Remember:
Be Willing
Be willing to learn, and a teacher will appear.
Be willing to work, and numerous opportunities
For making a valuable, positive difference
Will come your way.
Your willingness is a key that unlocks life's abundance.
Your willingness helps opens your eyes to,
And prepares you for whatever you are willing to be or to do.
Your willingness is not merely what you say it is.
True willingness resides in the deepest part of who you are.
Be willing, and you will gain access to
Whatever you need to get the job done.
Be willing, and you will find a way.
Many things seem out of reach only
Because you imagine them to be.
Have the courage to be sincerely willing,
And the impossible can become real.
Be willing to make a difference in each moment,
And your world will overflow with possibilities.
Be willing to experience a life of richness and fulfillment,
And that is precisely how it will unfold.
--- Author Unknown
--- Submitted by Narayan T. V. --- India
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