insakanet

Inspiration

  • Your Imagination is a Preview of Things to Come

    Your imagination can be a preview of things to come because imagination is a powerful tool that allows you to create mental images of possible future scenarios. 

    When you imagine something, you are essentially picturing it in your mind, and that mental image can influence your thoughts, emotions, and actions in the present moment.

    By using your imagination to visualise and focus on what you want to achieve or create, you are essentially setting the stage for those things to manifest in your life.

    For example, if you imagine yourself achieving a particular goal, such as running and winning a marathon, you are creating a mental blueprint or preview of what that accomplishment might look and feel like. 

    This mental preview can motivate you to take action towards your goal, such as training regularly and eating a healthy diet. 

    It can also help you overcome obstacles and challenges along the way because you have already mentally rehearsed what it will be like to achieve your goal.

    Furthermore, your imagination can also help you come up with new ideas and innovative solutions to problems. 

    By visualising different possibilities and scenarios, you can gain new insights and perspectives that can lead to creative breakthroughs and new opportunities.

    Keep Your Vision Alive

    Allow yourself some time each day to daydream and let your mind wander. This is one of the ways you can keep your dream alive.

    Using your imagination gives you the motivation to keep doing what you need to do for you to achieve your goals. 

    The beauty of daydreaming is that you are the only one who has privileged access to your thoughts. 

    By frequently daydreaming you are helping to stimulate your imagination. Unless to reveal it to some else no one has access to your imagination apart from you.

    Visualise Your Goals

    Visualisation is a powerful tool and concept that can help you achieve your goals by keeping you focused, motivated, and inspired. 

    Use your imagination to create vivid mental pictures of your goals and aspirations. Visualising your goals can be a powerful way to keep them at the forefront of your mind and staying motivated to achieve them. 

    To help you practice and appreciate the visualisation concept make sure that you set clear goals.

    Take some time to write down your goals in detail, including what you want to achieve, how you will know when you’ve achieved them, and how you will feel when you’ve accomplished them. 

    The following techniques can also help in implementing the visualisation concept:-

    • Create a Mental Image – Close your eyes and create a mental image of yourself achieving your goals. Imagine what it looks; what it feels like; and what it sounds like, and try to make the image as vivid and as detailed as possible.
    • Use Visual Aids – In addition to the above, use pictures, diagrams, or other visual aids to help you visualise your goals more effectively. For example, if your goal is to travel to a specific destination, create a vision board with pictures of that destination to help bring your goal to life.
    • Use Positive Affirmations – Use positive affirmations to help reinforce your visualisation. Repeat phrases to yourself such as “I am successful,” “I am achieving my goals,” and “I am making progress every day.” You are the only one authorised to use the “I” in reference to yourself.
    • Practice Regularly –  Visualisation is a skill that can be developed with practice. Set aside sometime each day to visualise your goals, ideally in a quiet and undistracted environment.

    Engage in Creative Activities

    Participate in creative activities, such as writing, drawing, or playing music. This can help stimulate your imagination and allow you to express yourself creatively.

    When you are fully engaged in doing something your mind tends to bring out the best in you. There are many activities you can undertake to stimulate your creative side.

    Writing – Writing in a journal is a great way to express yourself creatively. You can write about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, or use it to explore new ideas and perspectives.

    Perhaps writing is the greatest way to express yourself. When you write something it comes from your heart. 

    Look for classes in your area that teach creative activities like writing, painting, or pottery. This can be a great way to learn new skills and meet like-minded people.

    Drawing or Painting –  If you enjoy visual arts, try drawing or painting. You don’t have to be a professional artist to enjoy the process and express yourself creatively.

    Play a musical Instrument –  If you enjoy music, try playing an instrument. You can take lessons or teach yourself using online resources.

    Tryout Something New – Break the routine, if you’ve never tried a creative activity before, now is the time to start. You can try something simple, like colouring, or something more challenging. 

    Reading and Watching Creative Material

    Engage in creative stories through books, movies, or TV shows. This can help inspire your imagination and expose you to new ideas and perspectives.

    Reading opens and exposes you to other people’s ideas. As a result, you begin to get a new perspective on your current situation.

    There is no substitute for taking the time to learn. The only way you can improve your mindset is by learning. So open up your mind to learning.

    Practice Mindfulness

    Mindfulness – “the fact of remembering and considering when to do” – Oxford Dictionary. 

    Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment or distraction.

    It involves intentionally paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings in a non-judgmental way.

    This helps you become more aware of your automatic reactions and behaviours and allows you to respond in a more conscious and intentional way. In other words, being mindful is being conscious. 

    Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation practices but has since been adapted into a secular practice that can be applied in daily life.

    By being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts and surroundings, you can better tune into your imagination and allow it to guide you.

    Mindfulness practices can include breathing exercises, body scans, meditation, and other techniques designed to cultivate awareness and presence. 

    Regular mindfulness practice has been shown to have numerous benefits, including reducing stress, improving focus and concentration, increasing emotional regulation, and enhancing overall well-being.

    Mindfulness is a powerful tool for cultivating greater awareness and presence in our daily lives, which can help us better manage our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and live more fully in the present moment.

    Conclusion

    Your imagination allows you to mentally preview possible future scenarios, which can influence your thoughts, emotions, and actions in the present moment and help you achieve your goals and create new opportunities.

  • Addressing the 3 Motivational Killers

    Even though motivation is a key factor when it comes to issues of personal development and self-growth it is not always easy to stay motivated.

    Most successful people, be it, sportsmen/women, movie stars, politicians, businessmen, etc. will tell you that without being motivated by something, they would not have attained greatness.

    “To succeed you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you” ~ Tony Dosset.

    There has to be a motivating factor for you to continuously pursue your life’s purpose. Motivation is one of the single most factor that distinguishes success from failure.

    But we all at some point in our life’s journey get demotivated for various reasons. There is nothing wrong with it, we are human and it’s in our nature.

    The difference is how we handle life’s challenges. How we rise up and get over it. You are not made or unmade by the things that happen to you but by the things that you do.

    Several factors can lower your motivation. Recognising these factors might be the best way to improve your motivation.

    Lack of Self-confidence

    The first one is a lack of self-confidence altogether. Why would you continue to do something if you don’t believe that you can do it?

    If you are a cyclist and have entered into a competition would you go ahead to participate in it if you think you cannot win it?

    For all, I know those who are successful participate in competitions with the aim to win and not to lose. Let’s take two soccer teams for example competing in the world cup final.

    I believe that the team that carries the day is the one with the right mentality and confidence and show that they really want it.

    When you lack self-confidence it is almost impossible to succeed. Confidence enhances your motivation.

    It is true that when you have high levels of confidence so are your motivational levels and the opposite is equally true. A low or no self-confidence generates low or no motivation.

    The greatest enemy to developing a positive high confidence is fear; it can also generate low self-confidence. It is therefore very important that you try as much as possible to avoid lacking self-confidence.

    “Have your heart in your life’s work, and be stout-hearted. Do something, act always, and do it now. Don’t be afraid. Many a man has been defeated by his doubts—lack of confidence. Take your risks —you cannot eliminate them, you cannot escape them. You can diminish them by dominating them” ~ Batten’s Wedge.

    Lack of Focus

    Do you know what it is that you want to achieve, if not, why should you take action; why should you be motivated?

    “Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives” ~ Tony Robbins.

    You cannot start a journey without a final destination in mind unless you are a tourist even tourist have an itinerary. You cannot start something without knowing exactly what you want to achieve.

    Otherwise, you will find yourself with a lot of goals that are difficult to achieve. You need to concentrate on a narrow path that is manageable to achieve.

    You need to focus on what you want to achieve in your life. Having a clearly written down life’s purpose is the beginning point for focusing.

    When I started my path on self-development I listed down quite a number of goals and began to narrow them down as time passed by.

    You will notice that at the very beginning when we set out, we have a number of goals to be achieved but, as time goes by and as the picture becomes clearer you will be forced to adjust your goals.

    The important thing, however, is to get started with at least a good understanding of what you what to achieve. It will definitely be very blurred and unclear.

    The time and thoughts wasted in aimless effort would accomplish wonders if properly directed with some special object in view.

    The Lack of a Sense of Direction

    Insight enables us to plan to advance and turn our thoughts and attention in the right direction, instead of into channels that can yield no possible return.

    You cannot have a sense of direction without understanding what you want to achieve.

    However, if you know what you want and believe that you can achieve it but have no clue how to get started, you can be very demotivated.

    Have you ever felt that whatever you are doing has no sense of direction? What was your reaction to it? Exactly, you quit and refocused.

    Though when starting out, sometimes you may find yourself in a situation where you feel you have no direction, being in there may help you create direction.

    Whatever you do in life you must always make sure that you have a sense of direction. It may not be clear to people around you but for as long as you feel it is for you, continue on the same path.

    We have outlined the 3 main motivation killers above. It is now time that we move on and focus our attention on how to address them.

    We will now proceed in the same manner as before until we reach the conclusion.

    Addressing The Lack of Self-Confidence

    “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence” ~ Helen Keller.

    Thoughts of courage, power, confidence, and hope all produce a corresponding state, but the one enemy which must be absolutely destroyed before there is any possibility of letting any light shine is fear.

    Fear is an enemy of success. Remember that fear is a very strong emotion and has the ability to derail anyone who harbours it.

    Here are some suggestions that can help address a lack of self-confidence;-

    • Focusing on what you already have achieved than what you do not have. Appreciate what you have. After all, they say “a bird in hand is better than one in the bush.”
    • Create your own positive mantra that will assist you to boost yourself up.
    • Speak positive things to yourself every day. If no one compliments you on your work why not do it yourself. Tell yourself how well you have done. Find ways of rewarding yourself for your work.
    • Also learn to accept compliments when they come along and enjoy the feedback. Compliments are good but they should not get to your head. Sometimes we have a tendency of overreacting to compliments from other people.
    • Keep reminding yourself of the good things that you have achieved and have gained. We all have done good, at some point. This will surely lift your spirits. I believe that even the worst condemned person on earth has some goodness in them. Remember that we are all created in God’s image and God is love.

    “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt.

    Personal development demands that you have confidence in whatever, you are doing for your own success.

    Addressing The Lack of Focus

    One of the best ways to defeat a lack of focus is to set goals for yourself that are reasonable and achievable.

    The very act of goal setting puts a structure around your random thoughts and keeps you focused on them, that’s why it is important to have your goals written down.

    Read them on a daily basis and make sure you can recite them. Goal setting is one of the key areas of personal
    development and self-growth.

    Instead of worrying about the future and what it will bring forth, set down and gain each day that fortune grants. Focus on how you can help change the situation.

    I recently listened to Brian Tracy’s DVD entitled “the miracle of self-discipline” Where he teaches about daily goal setting.

    This DVD is life-changing. Remember that the consciousness that focuses in your brain cells is the same consciousness that focuses in the brain cells of every other individual.

    You need to develop a sense of focus and fine-tune it. It may not be easy for some to develop it in the beginning but with practice, you will improve on it.

    “One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular” ~ Tony Robbins.

    Address The Lack of Sense of Direction

    “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined” ~ Henry David Thoreau.

    Addressing this one is tricky especially if you are just starting on your road to success.

    As the Chinese proverb goes “a journey of 3000 miles begins with one step.” It does not say whether it’s a step in the right or wrong direction the most important thing is to take the first step.

    Daunting as it may seem the direction will become clearer as you break down your goals into smaller manageable ones.

    Remember you cannot skip from 1 to 3000 miles. You need to plan on how to reach the next mile and make adjustments as you get to know the terrain better.

    This way you will have a sense of direction and appreciate your journey.

    As they say, Rome was not built in one day. When you have built the right sense of direction you tend to be motivated and feel comfortable with what you are trying to achieve.

    One of the best ways to creating a good sense of direction is writing down what you want to achieve and breaking it down into small achievable goals.

    You may also consider goal setting Technics, click here to learn more on this topic.

    Conclusion

    Motivation plays a key role in personal development and success. We must try by all means to overcome the 3 motivational killers mentioned in this article as they can derail our progress. Remember you can do all things possible in Christ Jesus who strengthens you.

  • How to Live from the Inside Out

    “Things may happen to you, but the only things that matter are the things that happen in you” ~ Eric Butterworth.

    I am not made or unmade by the things that happen to me but by the things that I do, this means that I have learned to live from the inside out.

    The bible says we shall know them by their fruits, very true indeed. What we manifest outside is a result of the fullness of the inside.

    Have you ever wondered how many people care about what other people think of them as compared to the number of people who care for them; what they look like; what school they went to; how society has accepted them and where they work?

    Most of us have actually forgotten or do not even know that we are what we are as a result of what has been planted inside of us. Our own life is like a fruit.

    Do you expect that when you plant say a mango seed you will get an apple tree? Of course not, you can only get the exact type of fruit tree you planted.

    They say all growth comes from within. Human beings, just like plants, grow from the inside out. Our personal growth begins with a seed that is planted and nurtured within us.

    All things being equal, we would all grow and reach the same heights. However, this is not to be so. Even, though all other parameters remain unchanged.

    I have below a few things that you may consider to help you live from the inside out.

    What Do You Feed Your Mind On?

    Before we go and discuss what we feed our minds on, you must know and realize that you have a world within. This world within although, invisible its forces are mighty.

    This inside world of thought and feeling and power; of light and life and beauty is waiting to be discovered and unleashed.

    You are made or unmade by the things you do and not the things that happen to you. In order to better understand and know how to live from the inside out, you need to know that every thought is a cause and every condition is an effect; for this reason, you need to control your thoughts so as to bring forth desirable conditions.

    Yes, there will be challenges along the way, but what world would it be without challenges? The world within is the cause, the world without the effect; to change the effect ,you must change the cause. Change your world within and you will change your world without.

    This brings us to a very important daily act and this is the act of reading and feeding your mind with the right stuff. If you are like me and want to succeed in the area of personal development and self-growth.

    You need to feed your mind with the right material. The mind can only be feed through reading, listening, and watching the right material.

    To help you get started with feeding your mind start reading, say 1 book per month. Just ensure that you have drawn up a reading program and stick to it.

    Studies have shown that nonfictional books are rarely read beyond the first chapter. Please improve on this statistic.

    There are plenty of materials to be read out there. Just look for what suits you and what will help you grow in the area of your interest.

    My personal target is to read 1 book per month on top of reading my daily bible verses and magazines of interest, so far so good. I have also greatly reduced my reading of current affairs as most of it is usually on the negative side.

    I know that this is one of the best ways to keep my mind focused and fed on the right material. The best time for me to read is at night and early in the morning.

    You may also consider reducing the time you spend watching TV. I have noticed that TV is a major source of a lot of negativity. If you are a parent you will agree with me that most of the things your kids do or say are a result of what they see on Television.

    Your Mind Creates Your Reality

    Reality starts in your mind “by thought, the thing you want is brought to you, by action you receive it.” As a man thinketh so is he in his heart. As you think, so your life becomes.

    Changing your attitude and expectations, will sooner or later, change your life accordingly. The biggest player in our daily lives is the mind.

    We live our lives according to what we think. Studies have shown that what we think comes to pass as reality. To live from the inside out, your mind has to be creative.

    Remember that everything that we see that is man-made, was first conceived and created in the mind. I would be right then to say that your mind creates your reality.

    If your mind is full of negative thoughts chances are 9/10 you are living in negativity. If you want to succeed at whatever you are planning to do, you must first change your mind and see yourself as successful.

    Let your mind create your reality. If there is one organ in our bodies that is underutilized it is the brain. To positively live from the inside out you must allow your mind to create the reality for you.

    If you believe in your mind that you will be successful at what you are doing then prepare yourself to receive it.

    All things have their origin in the mind, and appearances are the result of thought. Since they are produced by thought, they can be erased by thought.

    This is how important your mind is. What you think has a direct influence on what surrounds you. It is believed that the mind is capable of attracting that which you harbour in your thoughts.

    Human beings can form things in their thoughts, and by impressing these thoughts upon formless substance, can cause the things being thought-about to be created.

    If you are a Christian you will agree with me that God “thought” before every creation.

    Be Creative and Think Positively

    “To live a creative life we must lose our fear of being wrong” ~ Joseph Chilton Pearce. “The best way to predict the future is to create it” ~ Peter F. Drucker.

    Being creative and positive will surely enhance the quality of life you lead. If you are to successfully live from the inside out, then your mind must be both creative and positive.

    If we take it in the spiritual context man is made in the image and likeness of God. Man is therefore a spiritual being and the spirit possesses the power to think.

    Thinking is, therefore, creative and all form is, the result of the thinking process.

    No sane person can disassociate themselves from thinking. Thinking is the core activity for every living being. It is therefore very important that you harbour and entertain positive thoughts that will manifest into a positive form.

    Remember that creativity is embedded in all humanity. It is entirely up to an individual to tap in and use it constructively. Studies have shown that the mind is always active no matter what you are doing even in sleep.

    I believe that the quality of your creativeness coupled with your reaction and action will determine the level of your achievement.

    Conclusion

    All growth is from within. All living creatures grow from the inside out. I, therefore, challenge you to feed the inner you for perfect growth.

    Yes, you will come across challenges and these will only be a test of what you are made of. Success will not come without growth.

    Prepare yourself to overcome the storm, as after every storm there is calmness.

    The bible says we shall know them by their fruits. Ask yourself what fruit you carry.

  • The Importance of Having a Defined Written Down Intended Life’s Purpose

    “Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time” – Marion Wright Edelman.

    I cannot emphasise how important it is to know and write down your Intended Life’s Purpose.

    We all have a purpose in life that is why we are here. Our creator designed us to fulfil a certain purpose therefore, it is very important that we get to know what our God-given intended life’s purpose is. To know what your intended life’s purpose is, you need to go back to your manufacturer. You need to seek God’s face and guidance.

    “A person with a clear purpose will make progress on even the roughest road. A person with no purpose will make no progress even on the smoothest road” – Thomas Carlyle.

    There is no way you can know what an appliance was made for before reading the manufacturer’s manual for instructions on how to use the item. God has given us our blueprint through the Bible.

    If you do not have a written down Intended Life’s Purpose you are most likely travelling the road of confusion where many people are right now.

    “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lords purpose that prevails” – Proverbs.

    You were created to add value and to be a solution to the world, regardless of how small or big you may think it is. Alas many of us are robbing the world of the solutions we were created to offer be. It does not matter what your age is, you can still contribute to the world by finding your intended life’s purpose.

    There are many benefits when we are living or pursuing our intended life’s purpose some of which are:-

    You, Will, Be More Effective and Efficient

    “There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it” – Napoleon Hill.

    When you have discovered your intended life’s purpose you will be more effective and efficient at doing it and work will flow naturally from within you. As an illustration, let’s use a guitar as example. Now, we all know that a guitar is a musical instrument, instead of using it for playing music say it is used to paddle a canoe.

    Yes, it may work as a paddle, but not as effective. The effort and energy used will be much more, than if it is used for the intended purpose as per the manufacturer’s manual. Equally, the same with us human beings, if you are living a purposeless life you will you are less effective at your work or whatever, endeavour you are engaged in.

    One contributing factor to negativity is not being efficient with what you are doing. Personal development and growth demands that you are more effective and efficient at what you are doing. Effectiveness and efficiency are motivating factors in achieving your intended life’s purpose.

    The Quality of Your Service is Noticeable

    When you are doing what you love and are designed for, most of the time the end product is of very high quality. When you do what you love, you do it with passion and patience.

    I like to give an example of some of the medical personnel in our hospitals. Those that do it as a vocation are usually not the best. They tend to be in a hurry and do it for the money. Where, as those that are called to be medical practitioners are more patient and caring for their patients. They do a better job as caregivers.

    Another example is a time when I was tasked to buy a small table for an exhibition. I approached a carpenter and asked him to make one for me. Of course, I explained to him all the details and measurements. When he brought the table I asked what the price was.

    When he mentioned the price, I was shocked. I politely asked him how much he would be willing to pay for it if he was the buyer. He shocked me again by giving a ridiculously low price because the quality of his product was substandard. He proved to me that he was interested in the end product but the money.

    This experience brought out one thing for me, the carpenter was in the wrong business. When you have your intended life’s purpose correct, the quality and standard of your service or products will be very high and hence will attract good value for money.

    One way to check if you are moving towards your intended life’s purpose especially if you are in the service industry is to put yourself in the shoes of your customers or clients. Believe me, if your work is of high quality and standard it will show.

    People are willing to pay a high price for a quality service or product. You will agree with me that when you walk into an electronics shop and you compare the prices for stereos with established brand names such as Sony, Sharp, and Kenwood with other less established brands.

    The difference will actually tell you the story. Surely you will be much more willing to pay a higher price for the known brands. This is because they have built a good reputation for themselves.

    Joy and Happiness

    “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful” – Herman Cain.

    There is great satisfaction and happiness when you have accomplished what you have set out to achieve. The happiest of people are those that are pursuing their intended life’s purpose. Every small goal that you accomplish moves you towards your greater goal and is the motivation for the next assignment.

    When you are doing what you enjoy and love doing, life is more bearable and enjoyable. Yes, there will be challenges and obstacles that will come your way, but you will overcome them much easier.

    There is no written formula for happiness. For me, the only formula I have found for happiness and joy is in doing that which I love most.

    “Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution will ever experience life’s deepest joy; true fulfillment” – Anthony Robbins.

    Conclusion

    “Take up one idea and act on it. Make that one idea your life. Think of it, dream of it, and live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, and every part of your body be full of that idea and leave all other ideas alone. This is the way to success” – Unknown.

    There are more benefits to having a written down intended life’s purpose I have just scratched the surface of it. I would encourage each and every one of us to find what God created us to do. The only way to know your intended life’s purpose is to seek the face of God in prayer.

  • Your Confidence is Key to Success

    “It’s not the mountain we conquer but ourselves”~ Edmund Hillary.

    “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without confidence” ~ Hellen Keller.

    Success cannot be achieved without confidence. The most successful people are the ones with confidence. You cannot set out to do something and succeed without the backing of confidence.

    If you lack confidence there is a very high likelihood that whatever, endeavours you have embarked on, will not be a success.

    It’s absolutely vital that you develop the confidence and self-belief that you will achieve your goals. Self-belief is very crucial to succeed.

    I am not talking about being arrogant and ignoring feedback from other people and thinking you are infallible or invisible. Am talking about having a balanced view of yourself that does not indulge in false modesty and self-pity, and an inner view that is not strong enough to be crushed and defeated when someone challenges you.

    The thing is; to succeed you must develop the mindset and confidence to achieve your goals.

    If you’re really serious about succeeding you cannot afford to wallow in negative thoughts of “I am not good enough.” Here are a few tips to help with the development of your confidence.

    Positive Self-Talk

    Self-talk is perhaps the most important step towards developing self-confidence. What you tell yourself has more bearing and effect than what other people talk about you.

    Remember you are what you think. The bible says “as a man thinketh so is he in his heart.”

    Develop the attitude of talking positively to yourself. It helps to keep telling yourself that you can do it, you can do it. The Bible says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” If God is for you, who can be against you?

    Usually, when am working on a task I keep reminding myself of the benefits that accrue when a task is achieved.

    I usually remind myself early in the morning that I can achieve all the tasks that I have laid down. Yes, I will come across obstacles but my mind is prepared for the tasks ahead.

    Sometimes I fail and sometimes I win, but I always learn from my failures and move on. I do not let them take the best out of me.

    You should try having a to-do list every morning and see, how that helps you towards achieving your intended goals.

    “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” ~ the bible.

    This is my prayer every morning. Try personalising the above quote and see how your confidence levels will improve.

    Your Behaviour Matters

    What you think about and what you say to yourself has a profound bearing on your behaviour and on what happens to you.

    Your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours towards your ability to achieve your goals, have an impact on your expectation of the situation.

    In turn, your expectation will impact the way you behave in a given situation.

    People will always respond to your behaviours.

    “The most powerful forces of nature are the invisible forces, so we find that the most powerful forces of man are his invisible forces, his spiritual force, and the only way in which the spiritual force can manifest is through the process of thinking” ~ the Master Key.

    Am sure we’ve all known someone if not ourselves, who has been worrying about something they have to do and have constantly spoken how badly it’s going to go. 

    When it does go badly they jump and exclaim “I knew” that would happen.

    You see all along they did not realise that they created their own self-fulfilling prophecy. There is power in your thoughts and in your words. Always be mindful of what you say. It is better to keep quiet than say anything.

    Focus on the Things You Do Well

    Take stock of your skills set and attributes that you already possess. In other words, know your weaknesses and strengths and focus on improving your strengths even further.

    This is not to say that you should neglect to improve on your weakness. But focusing on doing the things you do better can highly improve your motivation and confidence levels.

    The idea is when you set out to do a task and accomplish it very well there is a sense of well-being and satisfaction.

    I have listed down some personal questions to help identify your skillset and attributes if you are not sure of them. Write down the answers and keep on reviewing them.

    Please make sure you answer the questions honestly there is no right or wrong answer.

    • What am I good at?
    • What have I received compliments and positive feedback for in the past?
    • What do people value me for? (Compare this with what you value yourself for).
    • What challenges have I overcome in the past?
    • What skills do I possess that have helped me to overcome the challenges?
    • What have I achieved in the past that I perhaps thought I couldn’t?

    “We see things not as they are but as we are” ~ H. M. Tomlinson.

    As human beings, I have noticed that we judge other people by our own standards.

    Believe me, if you have set yourself a high standard that is what you expect to get from other people and nothing less.

    Be Inspired by Other People

    One of the things that have always inspired and given me the confidence to succeed is by looking at and reading about other people who have made it.

    Find yourself some role models whom you admire and whose story of success inspires you.

    A role model does not necessarily have to be alive or known personally. It could be someone you have read about or someone who does not even know you.

    Most successful people have written books about their lives. Find some literature about them and read it.

    A good role model will show you the following attributes

    • Their attitude and approach
    • Where and how they started
    • How they made the most of their abilities
    • How they handle their success
    • How they overcome challenges

    Always remind yourself that these too were or are human beings just like you and I. If they can make it, why shouldn’t you make it?

    Conclusion

    Let me end by emphasising that you cannot succeed without having self-belief and the confidence to carry you on.

    I have not come across a successful person without self-belief and no confidence. I challenge you set out your intended purpose in life and start pursuing it with confidence.

  • At the Heart of Every Obstacle Lies an Opportunity

    “There is no shortcut. Victory lies in overcoming obstacles every day.”

    When life takes a turn and brings about unexpected obstacles, we react with our emotions. One may face fear, resentment, anger, and doubt. It is absolutely humane to react in this manner.

    Sometimes the obstacles may seem impossible to overcome. They may seem bigger than we can handle. They seem as if it’s the end of the world.

    The bigger the problem the more the rewards. I read a story that changed my perspective on the way I view challenges. This story illustrates the opportunities that lie at the heart of every obstacle.

    In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

    Some of the King’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. This sounds like most of us, we like to blame the authorities for not providing proper social amenities.  

    We blame them for not providing and enabling opportunity or environment.

    Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road.

    After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying on the road where the boulder had been.

    The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

    The peasant learned what many of us never understand! That every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. He could have acted like anyone else before him but he chose to make a difference and was rewarded for his efforts. 

    Change Your Attitude

    “On the path to success always lies big O’s. Some read them as Obstacles, and others read them as Opportunities.”

    Of course, the peasant in the story had to remove the boulder to clear his way, but in doing so he got rewarded.

    Going around it was the easy way out. But, then this would not have solved anything and he would have missed out on the unseen reward.

    He decided to confront the obstacle head-on and got his reward. You, see apart from just the gold that he received he also demonstrated responsibility. Just the act of him removing the boulder benefited more people than just him.

    Now, we all know that responsibility is a big part of personal development. It is one of the key areas of personal growth and self-improvement.

    The other lesson learned from the story is that nature is neutral and it pays you for your efforts. Am very sure that if the king had mentioned the reward, the peasant would not have been the one to receive it as they were other people before him.

    I guess the peasant’s positive attitude towards problem-solving was more at play than anything.

    Most of the time we miss out on opportunities that could be life-changing, all because of our negative attitude.

    Usually, the hindrances, presented, are telling us something. If only we can pay attention and focus on providing solutions to the problems at hand.

    If you take time and analyse the problem, if you look at it with a positive mindset, it could be pointing you in the right direction for your much-needed breakthrough. 

    Change your attitude, and start looking at challenges with a more positive mental attitude. Overcoming challenges in life is what constitutes personal development. It is what you were designed to do.

    Whatever problems you are facing right now, there is a lesson that life is trying to teach you and they will not get fixed until you learn that lesson. If you turn a blind eye the problem will grow even bigger.

    Learn from Your Current Obstacle(s)

    To reach full potential one must continuously be learning from life. Every day is an opportunity to improve your life.

    The small things that you do are adding up to your lives. You must make a deliberate habit of learning from your daily challenges. It is the small things that make up the big things.

    You may not be where you want to be in life right now. Life may have turned out to be what you did not expect. Well, know that you are not alone, there are people in much more difficult situations than you.

    However, the good news is that you have built up a wealth of knowledge and skills from your current situation. Armed with it you can change the course of your life, it is never too late.

    You have gained valuable experiences that have shown you the results of the choices and decisions you have previously made.

    If you want to make a positive change, you now know what not to do based on your life’s understanding.

    I believe you are more and better equipped than before. The hurdles we face in life merely give us a chance to look at things differently.

    Sometimes, we are so fixed on one thing and do not look at the other side, and then bang, we are faced with an obstacle and realise that there is another way of looking at things.

    The most important thing is not to lose focus and never give up when faced with adversities. But, rather use them as a learning base.

    Conclusion

    “Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage” – Victor Kiam.

    The classic story in this article is really an eye-opener. It is worth learning from. The story tells many stories and I know that if analysed even further, you will be able to deduce much more from it than I have.

    You must always try to solve problems than going around them. This is the only way we can help make the world a better place. Standout and always see the opportunity in the obstacles that lie ahead.

  • The Most Important Change Begins With You

    The fact that you are still alive and still on this earth, going through what you are going through, I want you to know that God has a plan for you.

    Look around and dig deep inside yourself and begin to work on the inner you. If you have to succeed you have to know that the most important change begins with you. You possess all that you need to achieve your goals.

    Stop complaining about how overweight you are, when you are eating anything that comes around and not going to the gym.

    Don’t complain about the quality of your life if you are not doing anything to improve it. You have no right to complain about your pay when you are not doing a thing to improve your skills.

    Change your mind and begin living a life of happiness.

    Living happily is not just an opportunity or a privilege. You have a responsibility to enjoy happiness. Decide and determine your own happiness.

    You hold the key to change your life. Why are you complaining about how bad things are around you If you are surrounding yourself with them?

    Begin by changing your mind and the way you look at things. Why are you complaining about the quality of friends you have when all along you entertain them?

    Just because you have been invited doesn’t mean you have to attend. Just because someone has called you doesn’t mean you have to call them back.

    If you are in a pub and someone is offering you alcohol doesn’t mean you have to consume it. You have the power to say yes or no. Quit giving those lame excuses, you have the willpower to do the right things.

    Just because your homey’s are partying doesn’t mean you have to party. You have a responsibility to your own life. Just because you are down doesn’t mean you cannot get up. You will fall many times before you succeed.

    Just like a baby falls many times when learning how to walk. Just because you have made mistakes in life doesn’t mean that’s the end of the world. Who does not make mistakes?

    Change Your Mind and Change Your Life

    If you are down, get up. It’s time to make that important change and move your life to another level. Stop feeling pity for yourself.

    Yes, you are the reason why you are not employed. You are the one in that unhealthy relationship. But, what are you doing about it? You can change the way you feel by changing the way you think.

    Self-pity will only make you more miserable and sad. Self-pity will not change anything; complaining will even compound your situation.

    Get a grip on your life by changing the way you think. Look, if you are not in control of your life someone else is. Someone else is making decisions for you; someone else is determining how much you should be paid.

    When you change your mindset new doors begin to open up. You begin to write a whole new better chapter of your life. You begin to possess the very things that you long for in your life.

    The talents, ideas, gifts and imaginations you have all begin to come to life. Do not let your poverty mentality determine your destiny.

    You begin to attract the very things that have eluded you before.  Look, God created you to succeed.

    Even before he created this world he had you in mind. Don’t allow your mind to be a stumbling block to your destiny. Do not be afraid of the unknown.

    If you can see the invisible you can do the impossible. Venture out into the unknown and stop being afraid of the unfamiliar.

    Your mind is the biggest asset and tool for improving your well-being. It is in your mind that change is cultivated, nurtured, and birthed.

    “Everything changes when you change” – Jim Rohn.

    Why Important Change is Valuable

    Change makes you break your cycle. It motivates you to look beyond your comfort zone. Change makes you venture into new dimensions of your life.

    It exposes you to things that you would never have experienced. With change, you begin to look at life from a different perspective. Positive change makes you feel in control of your life.

    I believe that positive transformation is a huge sign of one’s personal growth. Not many people embrace change easily.

    It, therefore, means that we must all strive to make positive transformations if we have to have an impact in our lives.

    If you do not take the right steps to adapt, the world will leave you behind. After all, we live in an ever changing environment.

    Those who succeed are those who embrace and harness change. Do not be shy from making positive changes in your life.

    The only way to keep improving your life is to keep on making positive changes. Those who succeed are those who are not scared to make and take bold decisions.

    The world is not what it used to be 15 years ago. For example, technology has tremendously evolved over the last decades. Take mobile phones, they have rapidly moved from analogue to digital. Now we have smartphones.

    Gone are the days when a phone was just used for voice calls only. Imagine how difficult it is for people who have resisted change.

    Conclusion

    “The truth is that we can learn to condition our minds, bodies, and emotions to link pain or pleasure to whatever we choose. By changing what we link pain and pleasure to, we will instantly change our behaviours” – Tony Robbins.

    Be the change you would like to see in the world. Fear, not your inadequacies. Learn from your past experiences above all take steps to make the change when necessary.

    I know that sudden change can make you lose your focus, always put your trust and faith in God Almighty he is a great shepherd.

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” – Proverbs.

  • Inspiring and Empowering Others to Help You

    “For changes to be of any true value, they’ve got to be lasting and consistent.” ~Tony Robins.

    “Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives” ~ Tony Robins.

    No man is an island. Personal success and development cannot be achieved in isolation. God has abundantly blessed us with people in our lives that we can rightly use to achieve our life’s purpose and goals.

    Each and every person you have come across in your life has a part to play and it is entirely up to you to recognise that and help them to help you move closer to your life’s purpose.

    In this article I discuss three important ways to empower our associates.

    Firstly let me make mention that there are 3 groups of people in our lives;

    • Close relationships – these will include your family, your friends, your spouse, and your children.
    • Your work relationships – these will include your colleagues, workmates including your boss.
    • Others – included in this category are people you come across every day.

    You need to know how to interact with these people in order for them to help you achieve your desired life’s purpose and goals. The key areas I have identified are listed below.

    Appreciation

    There is no single person I have come across in my entire life that does not like or rather feels bad when they are appreciated. Appreciation is perhaps one of the most important aspects of getting people to like you and to inspire them to support and help your cause.

    Develop the habit of expressing gratitude, even for the smallest acts of kindness. A genuinely simple smile and a heartfelt “thank you” goes a long way in lifting the other person’s spirit. The more thankful you are the more people are inclined to support you.

    Always acknowledge the effort, even if what you received isn’t exactly what you requested. Make the other person feel appreciated for their service and assure them that their effort was valued and not wasted.

    Appreciation lifts the self-esteem of human beings. The feeling of appreciation is an intense one and can make or break someone’s self-esteem. Imagine yourself working for a boss who does not seem to appreciate whatever effort you put into your work.

    Imagine the frustration of dedicating countless hours to an assignment, only to feel completely unappreciated.

    Now, contrast this with the feeling of being appreciated, even for your smallest efforts. You’ll find yourself willing to invest extra time because you know your work and presence truly matter.

    Approval

    Remember, everyone is primarily emotional.  Everything that people do, or choose not to do, is largely driven by their deeper emotions.

    Your job is to connect with their higher and more positive emotions so they feel so good about you that they want to help and please you in some way.

    If you are in a supervisory position it will really help you to spend more time with your subordinates inviting their feedback and comments on their work. To achieve this, you must create a trust worthy environment.

    This I believe is one of the best methods to get their work approved as they will understand what is expected of them.

    There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of having your work approved by your manager. It makes you feel a true sense of ownership and pride in what you have accomplished.

    Believe me, having a highly motivated worker can yield results beyond your imagination. The quality of your subordinates can make or break your success.

    If your personal goal is very dependent on other people’s input you need to devise methods that are consistent and gain respect from other people.

    You need to be nice, friendly, and courteous. I encourage you to read more on people management.

    In life, you always have a choice. You can either do everything yourself or you can get others to help you do some of the work. Delegating work is surely key to helping you achieve more with your time.

    Attention

    The third and final aspect of empowering others is attention. Just like every one of us loves attention in one way or the other. Learn to listen with keen interest.

    Pay attention to the details that keep people motivated and work to improve them.

    If you have a difference with say a work colleague. Do not argue with them but reason with them. Listen to their explanation and make sure you understand the reasoning behind it. If you do not agree with them be polite in letting them know that you have a different viewpoint.

    I have experienced this, especially with women. Even when they know that you cannot help them, they just want you to listen to them. All they are looking for is someone who can at least give them an audience.

    The fact that you will give them the attention they need, will greatly improve their self-esteem. If you are married that is lesson number one for you. Give your wife all the attention she needs. Listen to her.

    Conclusion

    Your ability to delegate effectively, which requires that you inspire and empower others to help you willingly, will determine how fast you move ahead. 

    It will determine how much you earn in your job; this will also determine the quality and quantity of your productivity; it will determine your ultimate financial success in life.

    The key to all of this is your ability to empower others. Life was meant to be lived with people.

  • It Pays to Start Small

    “Do not despise the days of your small beginnings” ~ the Bible. “Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still” ~ Chinese proverb.

    Some translations of the Bible say “humble” beginnings. I am sure that we all want to succeed in all areas of our lives more especially in the financial area.

    It is only normal and nature permits it. I believe that all normal human beings have the desire to want to do something that will make them excel and succeed in all endevours’ of life.

    The biggest problem, however, lies in the desire to climb the tree starting from the very top. It is the wish to enjoy the fruit before even taking the necessary step of planting the tree.

    It is like wanting to eat dessert before having the main meal, rushing to experience the rewards without putting in the essential groundwork first.

    We always want to ignore the basics. Many of us do not want to build a solid foundation for our success, be it in business or personal development. We want the easy way out.

    We would rather start reaping from what we have not fully sowed. However, what we do not realise is that ignorance and avoidance of basics is one of the major contributors to our failures.

    Yes, you may experience temporal success but the end is very catastrophic. Cutting corners may just prolong your journey to success.

    Starting small gives you the opportunity to learn the trade. You grow slowly but steadily learning and avoiding big losses.

    This gives you motivation, as you are able to see the small achievements that you are scoring along the way and you keep building on them.

    The Building Blocks

    To succeed at anything you need to have the building blocks put together. In fact, you must first acquire the building materials and then put them together in the right order.

    Most of us have acquired the building blocks and I can assure you that a good number of us have better building materials than successful people.

    The major difference is that we want to jump the gun. We want to start building the house from the roof.

    Simply put we do not appreciate our small beginnings. I like this Chinese proverb that says “a journey of three thousand miles beginnings with one step.”

    For sure every step taken simply means that you have covered a distance. In this case, your building blocks are the steps you are taking.

    As an individual, I have learned to appreciate that for anything that I want to succeed at, the small efforts and inputs that I put in are greatly appreciated and treasured.

    For I know that it is these small little things that give birth to big things. Know that Rome was not built in one day.

    Remember if you are planning to start running your own business do not be discouraged at the amount of startup capital you have.

    Just start and grow with your business. The more you learn how to handle small amounts of money, the more you are training yourself to handle large amounts of money.

    They say “it is the cents that make the dollars.” Put the cents together and you have a dollar. The more cents you put together the more dollars you have. The more dollars you have the more money you accumulate.

    It’s just like the human body; it is made up of small cells. These small cells when put together make each and every tissue, organ, and finally, the whole body is complete.

    When you focus on the composition and makeup of the human body you will appreciate that all growth comes from within; you will appreciate that those small things when put together they add up to something big.

    Start Small

    I know we all want to start big and quickly move in the comfort zone.

    The reality is that even the biggest corporations of today started small.

    A lesson learned from starting small is that you grow with the business and develop a discipline for managing it.

    Nature is such that you will hold dear what you have worked for and have seen grow from scratch. You become emotionally attached to it.

    It is very different to be given a lot of money that you have never handled before in your life, the likely hood of mismanaging the funds is higher than when you have toiled and sweated for the same money.

    They say easy come easy go. Have you ever wondered that most of those who win the lottery quickly become bankrupt?

    Starting small and ensuring steady growth also gives you a sense of pride and satisfaction.

    I am not against anyone who starts big, experience has shown that those who grow their businesses from a small scale are more likely to succeed than those who start big.

    I feel more comfortable starting with something I can handle and improving on it as it grows. It is much easier to handle small things and learn from them.

    Even in the area of personal development, change will not come like manna from heaven. The change will come through the small everyday efforts that you put in.

    Conclusion

    In order to succeed, we must appreciate the days of our humble beginnings. We also appreciate that all forms of living things are made of small components and remember that it is the cents that make the dollars.

    Learn to cherish those days and thank your creator for them. The days of your small beginnings are your learning curve and building blocks for your success.

  • Motivation, the Heart of Self Improvement

    “Have your heart in your life’s work, and be stout-hearted. Do something, act always, and do it now. Don’t be afraid. Many a man has been defeated by his doubts—lack of confidence. Take your risks —you cannot eliminate them, you cannot escape them. You can diminish them by dominating them.” ~ Batten’s Wedge

    This article is an excerpt from the book “believe it and you will achieve it.”

    Pain may sometimes be the reason why people change. Getting flunked grades makes us realize that we need to study. Debts remind us of our inability to look for a source of income.

    Being humiliated gives us the ‘push’ to speak up and fight for ourselves to save our face from the next embarrassment.

    It may be a bitter experience, a friend’s tragic story, a great movie, or an inspiring book that will help us get up and get just the right amount of motivation we need in order to improve ourselves.

    With the countless negativities the world brings about, how do we keep motivated? Try on the tips prepared from A to Z.

    A – Achieve your dreams. Avoid negative people, things, and places. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

    B – Believe in yourself, and in what you can do. You are the only obstacle to you success.

    C – Consider things from every angle and aspect. Motivation comes from determination. To be able to understand life, you should feel the sun from both sides.

    D – Don’t give up and don’t give in. Thomas Edison failed once, twice, more than thrice before he came up with his invention and perfected the incandescent light bulb. Make motivation your steering wheel.

    E – Enjoy. Work as if you don’t need money. Dance as if nobody’s watching. Love as if you never cried. Learn as if you’ll live forever. Motivation takes place when people are happy.

    F – Family and Friends – are life’s greatest ‘F’ treasures. Don’t lose sight of them. Embrace and enjoy their presence.

    G – Give more than what is expected. Motivation and self-improvement happen everywhere—at work, at home, and at school. True growth occurs when you put in extra effort and go beyond the minimum required.

    H – Hang on to your dreams. They may dangle in there for a moment, but these little stars will be your driving force. Your dreams will define the kind of legacy you want to leave behind.

    I – Ignore those who try to destroy you. Don’t let other people get the best of you. Stay out of toxic people – the kind of friends who hate to hear about your success.

    J – Just be yourself. The key to success is to be yourself. And the key to failure is to try to please everyone. The more you try to please everyone the more frustrated you will get.

    K – keep trying no matter how hard life may seem. When a person is motivated, eventually he sees a harsh life finally clearing out, paving the way for self-improvement.

    L – Learn to love yourself. Now isn’t that easy? Probable the easiest thing to do.

    M – Make things happen. Motivation is when your dreams are put into work clothes. Things do not happen without effort.

    N – Never lie, cheat or steal. Always play a fair game. The truth will always set you free. Build trust by being truthful.

    O – Open your eyes. People should learn the horse’s attitude and sense. They see things in 2 ways – how they want things to be, and how they should be.

    P – Practice makes perfect. Practice is about motivation. It lets us learn repertoire and ways on how can we recover from our mistakes.

    Q – Quitters never win. And winners never quit. So, choose your fate – are you going to be a quitter or a winner?

    R – Ready yourself. Motivation is also about preparation. We must hear the little voice within, telling us to get started before others will get on their feet and try to push us around. Remember, it wasn’t raining when Noah build the ark.

    S – Stop procrastinating immediately and take decisive action without delay. Procrastination only hinders your progress and prevents you from reaching your full potential. By overcoming the habit of putting things off, you can increase your productivity, reduce stress, and achieve your goals more efficiently.

    T – Take control of your life. Discipline or self-control jives synonymously with motivation. Both are key factors in self-improvement.

    U – Understand others. If you know very well how to talk, you should also learn how to listen. Yearn to understand first, and to be understood the second. Communication is very key your wellbeing.

    V – Visualize it clearly in your mind. Motivation without vision is like a boat stranded on dry land, unable to move forward or reach its destination.

    W – Want it more than anything. Dreaming means believing. And to believe is something that is rooted out from the roots of motivation and self-improvement.

    X – X-Factor is what will make you different from others. When you are motivated, you tend to put on “extras” in your life like extra time for family, extra help at work, extra care for friends, and so on.

    Y – You are unique. No one in this world looks acts or talks like you. Value your life and existence, because you’re just going to spend it once.

    Z – Zero in with absolute focus on your dream and confidently go for it with determination and passion!!!

    Conclusion

    Zelda Fitzgerald once said “Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold”. That is why when you put your heart to something it stands out.

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