ABestPost

Getting motivated is a challenge, and it often takes more than good intentions to really get going. When we first come up with an idea, our heads are filled with scattered thoughts and a vague plan of action. The problem is that good ideas don’t go anywhere on their own. Without a tangible force behind us nothing happens. Do you work harder when faced with a deadline? We all do because we have no choice but to produce.

So how do we force ourselves into action? A great way is stepping up and putting some hard earned cash on the line. Investing money in a goal does two things. First, it provides you with a valuable resource towards reaching your goal. Second, it gives you something to lose. If you don’t do anything at this point you’re wasting your own money.

I was first came across this idea in an article that explained why the poor have a higher rate of obesity than the rich. Poor people don’t lack the willpower to get in shape, they lack the resources. Only the rich can afford personal trainers, expensive gym memberships, and high priced groceries. With all these resources available it’s hard not to stay in shape.

At first I disagreed. Why can’t someone get a great workout for free by running outside and doing push ups and sit ups at home? In theory this works, but practice is different. Say you decide not to buy the gym membership and resolve to work out at home. Excuses always turn up. One day the weather is bad so you don’t run. The next day you come home tired, turn on the TV and never get up. Without a monetary investment to lose, there isn’t pressure to perform. By investing in a gym membership, you’re not just buying a place to workout, you’re buying motivation.

In effect, you become your own employer. When someone is hired, an employer pays for office space, a computer, training, etc. If that person doesn’t produce, the employer loses money. That’s why he also pays a supervisor to ensure the employee works hard. If you decide pay a consultant or personal trainer, you hire you own supervisor. By investing money in your goals you become employer and employee.You have something to lose if it fails and everything to gain if it works. It’s harder to be lazy when it means wasting your own money.

This strategy can be applied to any goal. When I decided to create my website, I started writing articles and bought a domain name, but without a significant investment my motivation fluctuated. I nearly abandoned this pipe dream before I put down $200 for a year of hosting. I could have gone month to month, but I knew it would take a year to build traffic. With that money spent up front I was committed. I also had a new resource. Seeing my articles published online was a tangible sign of progress. I also bought a great book on CSS and a Wacom Tablet to develop my web design skills and improve the looks of the site. These are all assets that enhance the site and provide reasons to keep working.

Any savvy entrepreneur will tell you that it takes money to make money. If you aren’t willing to spend a nominal sum to further your cause then how committed are you? By all means be frugal, but look at the big picture. Free resources are great but you can’t rely on them alone. What is the worth of a $30 book that helps you make thousands in the long run? Spending on valuable assets that grow your business is the sign of a wise investor.

We’re only human. We have good intentions, but our willpower can fail us. Over time we wear down and need an extra push. Don’t let the fear of wasting money prevent you from investing in your goals. If you know you want something, invest in it financially and mentally. Give yourself a resource and a reason to push yourself. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. One great investment can make up for scores mediocre ones. With hard work you’ll make back the money you spend, but you’ll never be able to get back lost time.

John Wesley is a self improvement enthusiast, dedicated to free thought and self education. He frequently posts original articles on his Personal Development Blog.

Sometimes you just need a kick in the butt.

You’ve set all your goals - you have a plan. You are determined. You are motivated.

But then the phone rings, the kids interrupt you, something comes up and life gets in the way.

You didn’t mean to let it happen that way. How can you get back on track to accomplishing your goals?

Sometimes there truly is one important piece of the puzzle you may be missing. It may be the secret that is holding you back or is keeping you from achieving those goals.

There’s a great new free ebook that gives you that secret. I call it the motivational kickstart.

I originally found out about this book from an internet marketer. And it was designed with the Internet Marketer in mind, however, this book will apply to ANYONE.

Okay, maybe not EVERYONE. Only those truly interested in making a change in their lives. If you’re tired of trying to “get ahead” or you are wondering why others seem to be doing well and you’re not, then this book can help you realize WHY. If you are looking to be successful, this book tells you the first most important step you need to take.

The really great thing about it is it’s free! There’s also some inspiring motivational quotes.

Written almost like a coach who’s going to make you win no matter what, I find that every once in a while I really benefit from a “You Can Do It” pep talk.

If you’re not hyping yourself up every morning with affirmations, goal setting reviews and other positive reinforcements - you should be! This book does a great job of showing you why the Law of Attraction works so well. What is the Law of Attraction? In simple terms, you attract what you think about. More information is covered in the book.

When you go to the website, there will be an upsell “one time only” offer page. They mean that –after reading the free book, I wish I had bought the upsell. But feel free to pass on that - you can get it later if you want. If you’re just looking for free information, the book is great all by itself.

You can also listen to a MP3 or a streaming audio of the book. I like doing this to reinforce the principles while I’m working.

Another little plus - if you’d like to pass this free book to your friends and family, you can make 50 cents for each person that downloads this great free resource!

Want the secret to motivation? Learn to kick start your goals with this free report. Get it here: Secret To Motivation

Do you remember your first day at school? Suddenly there was a big old world out there that you were going to face for the first time, with people you’d not met before and without the security of knowing what was going to happen next. And do you remember learning new skills and finding new and exciting adventures that inspired you to make-believe and play with ideas?

And you did it! You met the challenge. Sure, you learned that sometimes things got difficult and you had to negotiate with people for what you wanted. Sometimes you even got scared and lost that small fire of courage for a while. But you learned how to cope, and took on the world when you were only three foot high.

So the journey you’re on now is something you already know you can handle, right? Look at what you did as a little scared kid! That was a huge step for someone so small and new to life.

So what’s getting in the way now? Is it maybe the things you’ve learned since that time? Have you learned somewhere along the way that it’s not alright to fail or to make mistakes and learn from it? That you don’t have the right to ask for what you want out of life?

Maybe you’re feeling pressured by your friends to conform to what they think is a cool way of living. Maybe they don’t have the determination or courage that you do to change their lives. Maybe, rather than see that as an opportunity in themselves, they’d rather you didn’t follow your own dreams. That would challenge their perceptions of themselves, wouldn’t it? Or is being accepted by people who want or need to hold you back more important to you than setting your eyes on the far horizon and fulfilling your own destiny?

The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your peer group. You can still have compassion for friends who aren’t yet ready for their own journey. But that needn’t stop you from going on your own journey.

Where has that belief in yourself gone? When did those false perceptions of yourself and your current life make you think you weren’t up to the challenge or that you weren’t worth a wonderful, inspired future?

Isn’t it time you stepped out there, and looked at your new life squarely in the eye? In just the same way you did when you were a kid on your first day at school?

Neel Raman, is an author, presenter, workshop facilitator and coach to many. He has written ‘Hoops and Freedom’, a powerful self-improvement book, in the form of an entertaining fiction story, targeted at those who want and demand more from life. To get the first chapter for FREE and to receive FREE motivational lessons, visit: http://www.focusedon.com.au/blog
To find out more about this book and to register to receive FREE newsletters and other FREE offers, visit: http://www.HoopsAndFreedom.com

The journey to finding true meaning in one’s life can sometimes be a rocky road. There may be times when your resolve and courage flag and problems present themselves in such a way that you could almost convince yourself to give up. Not to push yourself any further. To just take time out and go back for a while to the life you already know and are comforted by.

These times are signals. They’re a chance to re-evaluate why you took that decision in the first place and why you want to reach your full potential.

We all know that sometimes life gets in the way of plans. Suddenly we’re distracted by simple changes or even emergencies in our own lives, and once you’ve taken your eye off the ball, it can be a struggle to get motivated or inspired again.

You know in your heart that these reasons for slowing down are simply excuses. Yes, you may have to fix this and deal with that, and you may be burdened with personal losses that are hard to bear.

Be kind to yourself. Instead of seeing them as obstacles, welcome them as challenges; as milestones along the way. They’re a way of testing your resolve and your commitment - they don’t block your path unless you let them and as long as you recognise them as challenges.

The same goes for those around you who may be trying to hold you back because they’re challenged by your determination. Understand that their apparent lack of support is an opportunity for you to share the things you’re learning along the way, and to help them see their true potential. Once they see you are steadfast, and that you are not easily swayed, they will gain courage from you, knowing that anything is possible.

You see how it works? It’s simply a question of changing your perception. If you see them as obstacles they will become obstacles and you’ll falter - you’ll fulfil your own prophecy of being unable to move forward.

Always see them as opportunities. Greet them with an open heart and with gladness, and they will strengthen you and prepare you for the new challenges ahead.

Just remember that nothing needs to be as it seems, and that you can make your own smooth path simply by accepting them as part of the landscape.

Neel Raman, is an author, presenter, workshop facilitator and coach to many. He has written ‘Hoops and Freedom’, a powerful self-improvement book, in the form of an entertaining fiction story, targeted at those who want and demand more from life. To get the first chapter for FREE and to receive FREE motivational lessons, visit: http://www.focusedon.com.au/blog
To find out more about this book and to register to receive FREE newsletters and other FREE offers, visit: http://www.HoopsAndFreedom.com

It’s easy to see when someone is fired up with inspiration. They radiate energy. They’re full of energy, imagination and possibilities; they spark with ideas. Every day they seem to be filled with the same resolve, the same conviction about what they’re doing, and you wonder sometimes how they manage to keep going without burning out.

Their inspiration comes from energy, and you know that everything is energy. And just by plugging into your own sources of energy, you can pick up again and move on as inspired as you were before.

Being around inspirational people charges the air and fires up everyone else - the air sizzles. If you spend a lot of time with positive, upbeat people it’s almost impossible not to feel just as positive. Positive people always look for the opportunities in life and not the difficulties. They turn every potential obstacle into a challenge and never stop learning about themselves.

That’s why it’s important to seek out people who look at life in a positive way. Spend time with friends like yourself who have powerful visions so that you can sustain each other and enjoy the positive vibes that comes from you meeting them.

That’s where the energy comes from that keeps that fire burning inside.

Think also about being actively involved in things that inspire you and that promote good community spirit. Create good energy for other people so that they can be fired up by your commitment and purpose. Sharing your heart with others and by helping out and making things happen isn’t only beneficial to you, but it also keeps that energy sizzling round to more and more people who want to be inspired.

Above all, believe in yourself to do what you set out to do - to follow your dreams and to make your vision a reality. Know in your heart that you are capable, strong, and courageous and that your time is now. Listen to that quiet centre of yourself especially when you find yourself flagging. Listen to it, draw strength from the people around you and the energy connecting us all, and set your face towards your horizon.

After all, inspiration really means bringing in spirit. Connect with that spirit and just observe how your life changes.

Neel Raman, is an author, presenter, workshop facilitator and coach to many. He has written ‘Hoops and Freedom’, a powerful self-improvement book, in the form of an entertaining fiction story, targeted at those who want and demand more from life. To get the first chapter for FREE and to receive FREE motivational lessons, visit: http://www.focusedon.com.au/blog
To find out more about this book and to register to receive FREE newsletters and other FREE offers, visit: http://www.HoopsAndFreedom.com

Will, Will, Will where are you? I have been searching for Will for days. Usually I know right where he’s at. But now I can’t find him any where. I have exhausted all my resources. I don’t know if I should cry or scream. So I am asking for your help. I am putting out and all point’s bulletin.

If you have seen Will, will you let me know? He is known for his strength and courage. He is admired for his ability to overcome temptation. He is touted for his mind control powers. His last name is Power.

Almost daily we find ourselves facing issues that call for will power. How many times do we say I wish I had more will power because:

-I need to get up earlier.

-I need to start exercising.

-I need to quit smoking.

-I need to drink more water.

-I need to spend more time reading.

-I need to pass up the donuts everybody is always bringing to the office.

-I need to finish by Master’s Degree

-I need to save money.

I think it’s safe to say there is at least one thing in each of our lives that we would like to change. So how do we find will power? What’s the magic secret? There is no secret. Will power is not something we find, it’s something we gain as we start making different choices.

I like the way Michael Garofalo put it, he said: “Willpower is the art of replacing one habit for another.”

Like I mentioned in yesterday’s post, it’s often more effective to make small little changes than trying to conquer everything all at once. In fact, the deep, lasting kind of change that we all want to experience and enjoy, happens slowly through consistent actions, over an extended period of time.

So let’s pick a habit, one that isn’t contributing to the ideal life we would like to have and replace it with a different one. For example, say you want to give up soda pop, instead of quitting cold turkey, just promise yourself that before you allow yourself to drink the cola that you must first consume 8 oz of water. Simple little actions like this over time will bring about profound results.

More quotes on will power:

“You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your deep, driving desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.” -Upanishads

“It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t. It’s that some people are ready to change and others are not.” -James Gordon

“What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that’s another matter.” -Peter F. Drucker

Being willing makes you able. So what are you willing to do?

Becca Levie, is known as the “Purpose Finder” she teaches individuals how to turn pain into passion. She is a successful business owner, inspirational speaker and author.
Her books include “Remember Who You Are…Born for Greatness,” and “Victim or Victorious.” She served as Mrs. Utah, US Continental. Becca’s unique story of triumph over tragedy makes her an expert at turning pain into passion. She was born with a heart defect and not expected to live. Later at the age of eight her mother abandoned Becca and her two sisters, they never saw their mother again. Becca invites you to visit her popular daily blog, “Life On Purpose,” found at http://www.beccalevie.com

“Hey honey, let me pick out the broccoli; I have a special way,” I said to my husband as he reached for a crown.

“Really,” he said, “how’s that?”

“Well first I squeeze the head to see if it’s firm then I grab it by the stalk and shake it. If it feels firm and it doesn’t shake like a limp fish, it passes the test.”

So what does “firm” or “limp fish” broccoli heads have to do with you? Maybe nothing or maybe everything. Take a good look at your life. Are you committed to yourself? Do you have a desire to make changes? Would you say that you have taken a firm stand and committed yourself to taking daily actions to guarantee those changes happen?

Or is your commitment more like a “limp fish” and you find yourself sitting around feeling envious as the firm heads move on without you? Now, if you’re reading this and you feel like a limp fish keep reading. I believe you’re going to like what you’re about to hear.

Casey Stengel said: “You can’t get into the Hall of Fame unless you limp.”

For those who aren’t familiar with Casey Stengal here are some quick facts:

-He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants and Boston Braves

-He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996

-He was retired by the Yankees and the Mets at the age 37

-He managed the Dodgers, Braves, Yankees and the Mets

What Casey was saying, and the point I am trying to make, is this: limping doesn’t mean we’re finished. It just means we haven’t yet connected with why we came to this planet. Now if you’re content being a limp fish then there is no reason to keep reading. But if you don’t want to be a limp fish,
and you just thought that being a limp fish is all you were cut out to be, read on.

The secret components of moving from limp fish to being firmly rooted in a life that you love are:
1. Believe it’s possible to live a life you love.
2. Be willing to see things differently and try new things.
3. Be willing to listen to and learn from people who have succeeded, despite your fears and their challenges. (Read, Read, Read.)
4. Be willing to do hard things or as Casey Stengal also said: “All I ask is that you bust your [heiny] on that field.”
5. Be willing to give yourself as long as it takes to make the transition from limp fish to being firmly planted, living a meaningful satisfying “on purpose” life.

Making change requires a tremendous amount of patience and the ability to accept that your feelings of “not good enough” are part of the load we all must carry. Feelings of inadequacy plague everyone no matter how accomplished they become. Once again Casey Stengal expressed such feelings well when he said: “Don’t cut my throat; I may want to do that later myself.”

The thing that sets the Casey Stengals of the world apart from those who have accepted the permanent status of limp fish is choice.

You have a choice just like I did: I could have chosen to believe after being born with a heart defect and after all the abuse and after being abandoned by my mom that I was worthless. Instead I filled my mind with stories like Casey’s and I kept moving past my fears. Now I enjoy a life I love coaching others to do the same. Still, even with all this, almost daily I have to face and move past fears.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.”

“Choose to quit accepting your life and start living it. You have what it takes.”

“Most people accept their life; they don’t live their life.”

Which one are you going to choose?

Copyright © 2007 Becca Levie. All Rights Reserved

Becca Levie, is known as the “Purpose Finder” she teaches individuals how to turn pain into passion. She is a successful business owner, inspirational speaker and author.
Her books include “Remember Who You Are…Born for Greatness,” and “Victim or Victorious.” She served as Mrs. Utah, US Continental. Becca’s unique story of triumph over tragedy makes her an expert at turning pain into passion. She was born with a heart defect and not expected to live. Later at the age of eight her mother abandoned Becca and her two sisters, they never saw their mother again. Becca invites you to visit her popular daily blog, “Life On Purpose,” found at: http://www.beccalevie.com

Many of you want your life to change and personal growth to improve. However, sometimes this is as far
as it goes.

You may desire positive growth development but can’t get motivated towards doing
anything to change. Unfortunately, unless you put your thoughts into action, nothing will be achieved.

You might hear yourself make excuses. “I really want to change, but i’m too busy
to do anything about it,” or, “I probably won’t be any good at it anyway, so why bother.”
It’s not always easy to work on self-improvement, however, if you doubt yourself before you even try, not much is going to be achieved.

If you really desire to change the way you are, you have to believe that you can. Not only can,
but believe that you will change.

You do have the ability to make your life the way you want it to be, but only if you believe
it is possible.

The way you see yourself is important. If you think you aren’t very clever, or not particularly
good at anything, this is the way you will be, because these thoughts have been programmed into
your subconscious.

So what can you do about this?

Change the thoughts you have about yourself. Start telling yourself that
you are clever, you are capable, that you can do this. Repeat positive statements
to yourself about whatever area of life you want to improve. Reprogram your thoughts until your
subconscious accepts this information.

If you tell your subconscious something often enough it will believe what it is told. You may have
negative self talk without even realizing. These thoughts should be reprogrammed by
telling yourself good positive information about whatever area in your life you want to improve.

Listen to yourself, you may be surprised at how often your self-talk is negative. Each time
you become aware of a negative thought, turn it into a positive one, hopefully before you speak it out loud.

Each day, as often as you can, tell yourself that you will achieve. Make all your thoughts about you and what you are going to achieve positive thoughts.

If you stay determined and don’t give in, you will definitely start to feel a change within yourself and
begin to see an improvement in your life. If your self-talk is positive you will reap the benefit in the way you desire.

Copyright Kay Drummond
http://www.positive-personal-growth.com

Uh oh! Here comes the big one and you’re up against it. This is the moment you’ve dreaded. Just when you thought you’d got some breathing space, you’re faced with a battle against the very thing you’re most afraid of.

It’s the stuff of every story ever told about determination, quest for truth and the struggle for survival. It’s the dark shadow that haunts us and challenges us to face it or escape to where we think it can’t find us.

Epic tales of courage in the face of danger have always celebrated the overwhelming challenge faced by characters facing their own dragons and triumphing. Think of Frodo, in ‘The Lord of the Rings’, terrified that he will succumb to the power of the Ring. His fear stems from the knowledge that he is capable of being overcome and he knows that he must find it in him to resist what he fears so he can fulfil his greater purpose.

It’s when he sees his fear for what it really is - an insubstantial shadow that cannot exist in the bright light of truth, that he understands that his own fear can only exist if he gives it substance and believes in it.

Remember the recurring theme in ‘The Matrix’? It portrayed that what we fear is an illusion and that the real battle is fought in our minds. The struggle is between what we firmly believe to be true and the reality of what is possible if we only let go of our preconceived ideas.

Like anger and fear, your dragons are simply imaginary constructs - and only by turning to face them can you truly unmask them for what they are.

Imagine this. Think of a set of stepping stones across the grass, and see yourself walking across them. And now imagine that they are towering pillars of concrete sunk into a deep river bed, with only the top surfaces visible above the rushing water. Think of how that changes your perception of what is dangerous and what is not. Isn’t it only just fear that holds you back from crossing the river? The possibility that you may slip and drown?

Remember that your imagination can be your greatest friend or the most deceiving of enemies. And you can learn to overcome your fear of your biggest dragons when you use the power of your imagination to see things in a clear, bright light.

And remember that things are never what they seem to be. You can decide the meaning of any situation in your life. It is your choice.

Neel Raman, is an author, presenter, workshop facilitator and coach to many. He has written ‘Hoops and Freedom’, a powerful self-improvement book, in the form of an entertaining fiction story, targeted at those who want and demand more from life. To get the first chapter for FREE and to receive FREE motivational lessons, visit: http://www.focusedon.com.au/blog
To find out more about this book and to register to receive FREE newsletters and other FREE offers, visit: http://www.HoopsAndFreedom.com