Regret or Passion? Which Will Yours Be?

This is an article by Kathleen Gage. I really enjoy her articles. I asked myself these questions a few years ago and took a risk to follow my passion. My life is totally different now. I wouldn't go back for anything because I love my new life!! Read my story about finding my purpose and following my dream.

Regret or Passion? Which Will Yours Be?

I once attended a retreat on how to live with passion and fulfill one's life's work. The facilitator posed the question,"If money was not an issue, yet you had to work full-time, what would you do?" Answering this question was a turning point for me. Now - years later - I am doing much of what came up in my answer. How would you answer this question? Ask yourself, "What am I goodat? What do my friends say I am good at? What do I enjoy and feel passionate about? What do I think is important?" The key to your happiness may well be held in the answers. The answers may not provide you with something you would do on a full-time basis, but it is a wonderful way to discover what will make your life more complete. The willingness to acknowledge and act on the answers may well create the opportunity to live with more passion and joy than you ever thought possible. In the answers lie your dreams. They will provide you with a road map of where you can put your energy in order to move closer to a more fulfilling and balanced life. Perhaps for you the answers will be an indication of where you can volunteer your time. Living with passion and joy means we don't have to have a monetary gain foreverything we do. Many a career has been launched through the experiences gained from volunteer efforts.

Far too many people have dreams they have given up on. We often blame others or outside circumstances for the fact we are not accomplishing all we desire. Granted, there may be some outside circumstances that create real limitations. However, in many cases we may be using imagined limitations as an excuse to not move forward. It can be easier to blame other people and situations as the reason we have not achieved our potential than to walk through the fear of the unknown. Limitations appear in many ways. Experience. Money. Time. Education. You name it, it is bound to be there. One of the greatest limitations is that of the mind. Determine which obstacles are real and which ones are imagined. Which excuses have been used over and over so that you will not have to face the fear of the unknown? Once you identify your real and imagined limitations, you will be able to work with them and move forward.

Granted, there is a lot that can dampen our spirits if we allow it. However, there are many opportunities to achieve your dreams if you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, put effort into your vision and move forward little by little.In order to break through your boundaries you must first realize what they are. Knowing what they are allows you to take action. Look for others who may have had similar roadblocks. Find out what they did to move forward. In their strategy may be your formula for success. Are you secretly wishing you would do something with your life other than what you are doing, but fear holds you back? If you ask most people what their greatest regret is, more times than not they will say it is what they didn't do rather than what they did.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to others and ourselves is to unlock the talents we have been blessed with and to have the courage to use them. Ask yourself, "How well do I use my gifts tocontribute to the well-being of myself and others?"

Will your life be filled with regrets or will it be filled with passion?

Kathleen Gage is a keynote speaker and business advisor based out of Draper, Utah. She is the author of several books including Message of Hope, Inspiring Thoughts for Uncertain Times. To sign up for Kathleen's free weekly inspirational thoughts visit http://www.turningpointpresents.com/messageofhope.htm

You Never Know

You never know when someone

might catch a dream from you.

Or something you say may

open up the windows

of a mind that seeks light;

The way you live may not matter at all,

But you never know, it might.

And just in case it could be

that another's life, through you,

might possibly change for the better

with a better and brighter view,

it seems it might be worth a try

at pointing the way to the right;

Of course, it may not matter at all,

but then again, it might.

~source unknown~

Why Elephants Don't Run

A number of years ago, I had the rather unique experience of being backstage in Madison Square Garden, in New York, during the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. To say the least, it was a fascinating experience. I was able to walk around looking at the lions, tigers, giraffes and all the other circus animals.
As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages.

It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.
"Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They think the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."

I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they could not, they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serve us? Have you avoided trying something new because of a limiting belief? Worse, how many of us are being held back by someone else's limiting beliefs? Do you tell yourself you can't sell because your not a salesperson?

Particularly in starting or running a business, we are cautioned not to take risks, usually by well intentioned friends and family. How many of us have heard, "You can't do that?" These are the dream stealers who, due to their own limiting beliefs, will attempt to discourage you from living your dreams. You must ignore them at all cost! I am not suggesting that you should not seek advice from qualified individuals and mentors, but that you avoid like the plague, being swayed by the limiting beliefs of others, especially people who are not in their own business.

Challenge your own limiting beliefs by questioning them. If you begin to question a belief, you automatically weaken it. The more you question your limiting beliefs, the more they are weakened. It's like kicking the legs out from under a stool. Once you weaken one leg, the stool begins to lose its balance and fall.
Think back to a time when you "sold" someone on yourself. We are selling all the time. You have to sell your ideas to your spouse, your children, and your employees — even your banker. Maybe, as a child, you sold Girl Scout cookies or magazine subscriptions to raise money for your school team. That was selling too!

Once you realize you are, in fact, a capable salesperson, you have weakened that old belief and began to replace it with a new, empowering one. Look for references to support the new beliefs you want to cultivate. As in the example of the stool, you want to reinforce your beliefs by adding more and more "legs" to them. Find people who have accomplished what you want to accomplish, discover what they did and model their behavior. Remember back to times in your past when you were successful and use that experience to propel yourself forward. If your challenge is in sales, read sales books and listen to tapes or attend sales seminars. This is a critical area of your business. One that cannot be undermined by limiting beliefs.

There is a technique called "fake it until you make it" that works well. I am not suggesting you live in denial, just that you begin to see yourself succeeding.
Visualize your successes. See yourself vividly in your minds eye making the sale and reaching your goals. Affirm, over and over, that you are succeeding. Write your affirmations daily. Of course, make sure you take the appropriate action. As it says in the Bible, "Faith without works is dead."

Remember that your subconscious mind does not know the difference between real and imaginary. Before you go on a sales call, take a moment and mentally rehearse the scene, just like actors and athletes do. Tell yourself, "I'm a great salesperson." Do this over and over, especially just before a sales call. See the sale being made. See and feel the success. You will be pleasantly amazed at the result. Don't take my word for it. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

It has been said throughout history that what ever you believe, with conviction, you can achieve. Don't be like the poor elephant and go through your life stuck because of a limiting belief you were given or developed years ago. Take charge of your life and live it to the fullest. You deserve the best.

What are your ropes?

Jim Donovan
www.jimdonovan.com

Do You Know What's The #1 Success Secret Is?

How many people do you hear complaining about their job, where they live, how little money they have, or how they can never take a vacation?

How many times have you heard those same people, when they hear about someone else who made a lot of money from an idea, say,

"I could have done that!" But yet, they didn't.

And they continue to complain about where they are in life.

A friend of mine owns a dog grooming business, and she buys supplies from another pet business in town.

One day, as she talked to the owner, she found out that the owner’s husband made liver treats for dogs - he bought liver at wholesale, cut it into thin strips, dried it, packaged it, and retailed it to pet businesses. Eventually he got a contract with a distribution company and was doing very well with what started out as a simple side business.

My friend was upset when she was talking to me. She explained that she had that idea several months earlier, but didn’t follow through because she didn’t think it would fit into her business.

"I could have done that!" she said, with some resentment in her voice.

You know what? She was right. She could have "done" that. She had the idea. But she didn’t follow through.

Do you see yet what the number one success secret is?

You must take action! You must put your ideas into play.

You will not be successful if you don’t take action. You can have as many ideas as you want, read as many books as you want, listen to motivational tapes, and watch inspirational speakers, but if you do not act on what you learn, you will not be successful.

It really is that simple.

If you have a great idea but stand still with it, nothing will happen. You have to walk - or better yet, run! - with your idea to make it happen.

After all, who was successful with the dog snack idea?

Was it my friend, who quite possibly had the idea first, or was it her friend’s husband, who actually followed through with the idea?

The person who takes action will be successful.

I know that it can be difficult to take action, especially if you are used to not doing so. It can be very hard to break out of the bad habit of inaction.

You’ll need to have continous improvement to achieve it. If you want to know how and where you can gain continous self-improvement resources, email me at patric(AT)esuccessmastery.com

Take action now.

To your success,

Patric Chan
CEO, eSuccessMastery.com

http://www.motivatedforsuccess.com/

---

This article is written by Patric Chan, CEO of eSuccessMastery.com and author of 'How To Make More Money Easily'. Discover the 5 wealth lessons on how to make more money and work less in 'How To Make More Money Easily'.
http://www.makemoremoneylessons.com/

>> Article Source: http://www.Marketing-Seek.com

Please Note: The author of this article has authorized its distribution with the requirement that it be published in its entirety, without changes, including the author's resource box.

Please Listen

Please Listen

When I ask you to listen,
And you start giving advice,
You have not done what I asked.

When I ask you to listen,
And you begin to tell me
Why I shouldn’t feel the way I do,
You are trampling on my feelings.

When I ask you to listen,
And you feel you have to do something
To solve my problem,
You have failed me,
Strange as that may seem.

Listen,
All I asked you to do was listen,
Not talk, or do-
Just hear me.

I can do for myself;
I am not helpless . . .
Perhaps discouraged or faltering,
But not helpless.

When you do something for me
That I need to do for myself,
You contribute to my fear and weakness,

But, when you accept the fact
That I feel what I feel
No matter how irrational,
Then I can get on with understanding
What’s behind that irrational feeling.

And, when that’s clear,
The answers will be obvious,
And I won’t need any
Advice.

-Unknown

Please Listen, Don’t Just Hear Me!

“One of the greatest gifts you can give to anyone is the gift of attention."-- Jim Rohn

Did you know that there is quite a difference between listening and hearing?

Hearing is receiving sounds and communication. We hear all the time, but are not always aware of everything we hear because we are not listening. To listen means to hear and pay attention to what you are hearing. If you hear a birdsong when you are out, and then you listen to it focusing on that one sound, it becomes clearer and more distinct, than many of the other sounds that are there.

In relating with other people listening is a skill that needs to be learned. It is not merely hearing them give an account, or relay some information. Listening means to pay thoughtful attention to what a person is saying with the mind intent on understanding the message to be delivered. The art of listening also involves watching the person’s body language, maintaining eye contact, asking for clarification when needed and also listening for the unspoken message. If you truly listen, you are able to make a connection with someone without necessarily speaking yourself.

The skill of listening is frequently overlooked, or given a low priority in our communication today. Yet everybody enjoys talking with a good listener!

A major factor to a person having poor listening skills is that they are too self focused. People fail to listen carefully because they are too concerned trying to be interesting themselves, rather than be interested in the person they are talking to. They falsely believe that to be liked and accepted they must demonstrate their intelligence and knowledge with their words or comments. They may cover up their own nervousness and insecurity by constantly talking to fill the air. Talking makes them feel good, and they don’t consider the other person, rather just take advantage of having an audience

Many times people believe if someone is telling them about a challenge that they are having, that it is a cue to jump in and start solving the problem. However, most people wish only to have a sounding board and just to have you listen. To take over disempowers the other person.
Here are some good ways to develop listening skills:

Be interested in the person you are talking to. Listen with the intention of learning about them. If a person senses you are really interested in getting to know them, they will begin to feel warmly towards you and talk more openly. This is a good way of building rapport, and also winning them over to your side.

Develop an attitude of curiosity towards people. Ask them questions about what they think, feel and enjoy. Find out how they see the world, what opinions they may have, their aspirations, and their experiences.

Develop your observation skills to notice things about the other person. What brings a smile to their face? What small things are important to them? When you notice even small things, it makes the other person feel special and important.

The benefits of having good listening skills are far reaching. You build rapport quicker with others and you can act and speak from an informed position. You gain a greater understanding of others and are able relate at a deeper level. People respond to your interest and become interested in you. It increases your popularity and others are open to cooperate and help you out when you are in need. Most importantly is how you can make a positive difference for someone, just by listening to them.

For more about communication skills

A Good Fry

From a newsletter by Steve Wunderlink

One of our kids, when only a toddler, would face a particularly bad day by coming up to my wife or I and saying: “I have to go fry.” Then he would go into our basement and sit on the rocking horse and “fry” or cry as he fiercely rocked back and forth. After ten or fifteen minutes he would come back up again as good as new. He just needed a good “fry.”

I enjoy an evening alone every now and again, especially after a busy day of meetings, running around, and/or hard physical work. I have the lights down low, the TV on, and I sit in my favorite, overstuffed chair and I cry. I keep the Kleenex close by and mostly sob quietly or even, sometimes, out loud. So now it’s out, you know my secret. I don’t cry for any specific reason, most of the time it is a result of a particular TV show or movie that I watch, but I enjoy a good cry.

Last Sunday night I watched a cable documentary called “The Boy without any skin” or something like that and I cried. Then came on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and I cried some more. This past week I watched the third of the Lord of the Rings movies and cried there too. I cry when Bruce Willis says goodbye to his movie daughter Liv Tyler in Armageddon. I go to movies with my wife and she will often move to a different seat as I sob alone. I cry easy and I cry often.

I think it is kind of a release for me. Some people use anger to release pressure and stress. Some people talk and talk and talk …. Some people will go to the gym to release it. Some people leave it bottled up inside until it breaks out like blemishes on a teenage face. I cry. This has been a new revelation for me lately and that is probably why I am writing it now. When the day is that kind of a day, you know what I mean, THAT kind of a day; what do you do to release that pressure and stress valve?

I just have a good fry.

Living and Enjoying Life

"For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life.
But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid.
At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.
This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.
Happiness is the way.
So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination."
Souza

This quote so describes the way I felt for many years. In many ways I felt like I'd somehow missed out on life. I went through the motions, without experiencing the feeling of being truly alive. I was in a rut and didn't even know it!

Then I had a 'lightening bulb' experience which set me on a journey of discovery. A discovery of who I am as a person, and and how to enjoy living my life every day.

The experiences of my journey have given me a passion to encourage others to begin their own journey of rediscovering who they are, and to share some of the steps that have helped me along the way.

Read more about living and enjoying life.

Quotes on Life

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." -- Diane Ackerman

"Most people are so busy knocking themselves out trying to do everything they think they should do, they never get around to do what they want to do." -- Kathleen Winsor

"We can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it." - Lyndon B. Johnson

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill