You've Got to be Brave to be Different?

Simple question - how many good ideas have you had that you simply never bothered to do anything about? And, have you ever noticed that some of the most successful people are where they are as a result of some really simple idea - the kind of idea that you say to yourself "I could have thought of that!"? Well, we all have great ideas at least once in a while, we're all struck by 'inspiration' from time to time - it's just that normal people laugh these ideas off as a flight of fancy. And that's what makes normal people just plain simple normal - they do nothing about anything that might just change their lives, whereas there are those few who actually do something about their good ideas. These people are abnormal - abnormally successful, exceptionally successful people.

So, next time you catch yourself wishing that your life were different - and if recent surveys in relation to just how much people don't like their jobs are anything to go by, wishing your life were different is happening all the time - realize this: for your life to change, you have to take action yourself. You're the one who's got to do something a little different, a little brave and a little courageous. Not a lot - a little will do for starters.

Ah, but you'll say to yourself that you're not the kind of person who could set up a successful business or develop an innovative idea. You'll say to yourself that you're not the kind of person that takes risks - you're not the kind of person that would ever appear on the front of Fortune Magazine. But it's only this defective thinking, that's lodged deep inside your own head, that's keeping you off the front pages of international magazines. It's only the pathetic little voice inside your own head that's holding you back.

Perhaps, like the vast majority of normal people, your life is simply not bad enough for you to do something about it! Perhaps you're not uncomfortable enough to get up off your normal ass and start living the life that you really want instead of going through the motions, day in, day out. Maybe you're afraid that other people will laugh at your ideas or be uncomfortable with the idea of you being a success. Well, first things first - don't waste your time worrying what others (even your so-called friends) are thinking about you - they're not - they really don't give a damn. And, even if they are uncomfortable with the idea of you being different or successful, chances are that it's just jealousy on their part.

Forget about everything and everyone else (apart, of course, from your very nearest and dearest) you're the one who has to lead your life - otherwise you're not really living at all, you're simply riding aimlessly around on normal life's sorry-go-round. You're the one who's got to take action - otherwise you'll lie on your deathbed wondering "what was that all about?" You're the one who has to do something - and something has to be done now. There's no point in waiting for a miracle - you've got to get the ball rolling yourself. So, today, do something different, do something brave - even if it's only shaving with the hand with which you don't habitually shave! Yes, you heard me right - you don't have to do something earth-shattering for starters - you've got to get your normal mind used to the idea that it can do things differently. You see, you've been doing everything the same for all of your adult life. As a result, your mind is mesmerized by a form of self-hypnosis. You've got to snap out of that self-induced coma.

Once you do one thing differently, you're breaking the habit of an adult lifetime, you're breaking the spell that habitual repetitive automatic behavior has you in. You're setting your mind up to do lots of things differently. Once you start doing little things differently, you 're-set' your mind and that means that the next time something occurs to you that might set you off on a new path in life - call it 'inspiration' if you will - you will be both more alert and more likely to do something about it. Your life is simply 'more of the same' every day because you haven't done anything to make it different. Until you do some things differently, nothing different will happen.

But once you do - and, remember, all you have to do is start small - different things will start happening. In making little changes you open your mind up to the endless possibilities and opportunities that the normal hypnotized mind simply cannot see. Psychology tells us that we get only what we expect to get out of life. Change one thing and everything else changes - or, in other words, expect something different and something different will happen.

By Guest Author:  Willie Horton


Willie Horton has been a Personal Development expert since 1996 - working with top leaders in major organizations. An Irish ex-accountant, ex-banker, published author and keynote speaker, he travels the world, from his home in the French Alps, enabling people "live the dream". All his work - including his acclaimed Personal Development Workshop - is now online at http://www.gurdy.net




Share |

The Thieves of Personal Development

Nothing is worse than having a dream for yourself and entities getting in the way to keep you from it. The sad truth is those barriers to your dreams are usually self-created. Personal development is hindered by four main thieves operating on a daily basis within your life.

- Attitude
- Motivation
- Habits
- Time

Everything you do is a choice. With you choices is always an outcome. On another level, you could call it taking a personal responsibility for yourself. If your life isn’t flowing in the direction you wish, then perhaps it is time to dissect these four areas in a self-evaluation.

Attitude: Accomplishing great things in your life is impossible if your thoughts and words are contrary to it. When you wake in the morning are you happy to have the new day? Has your mind closed down to the potential each day brings? Doing an attitude self-check is essential to personal growth. Without maintenance on our attitude daily, it is near impossible to embrace opportunities which bring dreams closer to reality. If you take a good look around you, you will see people stuck on auto pilot, caught up in stoic repetition. An indifferent attitude is almost worse than a bad attitude. As you grow older, it becomes even more necessary to feed your mind, wash your belief systems and do daily maintenance checks on your attitude. Being unaware of poor thoughts is a poor excuse for not being able to reach out for your dreams. Attitude accountability is reaching out for resources and self-help tools purposely. By not doing so, this thief surely will steal your joy of self-discovery.

Motivation: Simply put, motivation is having an “iron will”. If you do not mean to do something, you won’t. You might dance around thoughts of doing something while melting away on your couch, but until you actually initiate your will through actions, it is only fluff. The hard truth is you are the biggest poser in your own life if you have no motivation to accomplish a wanted dream or goal. No one said finding motivation would be easy either. Every single person has or has had difficulties with motivation. It remains a number one challenge in personal development. There will always be the little voice inside you telling you to get motivated later. Until you make up your mind to exercise your will now, motivation will elude you, keeping it thief number two in personal growth.

Habits: Habits keep you in your comfort zone. Habits provide security. They feel safe, whether they are good habits or bad ones. They can also keep you from moving on into new and uncharted areas of growth. Which habits do you possess? Are they a part of your problem or part of your solution? Sometimes poor habits become so ingrained into who you are, you don’t even notice how they rob your dreams. Developing new habits that are in sync with your goals, is the key to personal development. You must emit behavior which supports the results you want. The reason they are called habits is because you do them over and over and over. To keep this thief robbing your life, you must find ways to eliminate unproductive habits.

Time: The word speaks for itself. It is a universal container for holding all of our life meaning. Finding time, not enough time, out of time…and to each and every human is a lifetime. This is your food for thought: at the end of your life, how will you have defined your journey in regards to time? Did you make time work for you or did you do time? Each moment belongs solely to you, to your choices and to your dreams. Respect the value of each moment life gives you for all things meaningful.

Have a confident and positive day,

JD
Discover How to Control the One Thing that Means More to Your Accomplishments and Happiness than Anything Else ... Your Attitude!

21 Days to a New You

The Rule of 21

Research shows that in order for any behavior or action to become automatic
or routine, it must be done daily over a period of twenty-one consecutive days.

You can use this rule to break yourself of bad habits or to create better life changing habits. After 21 days the neural pathways of your mind have began to form and take root. By this time you are more likely to have broken your bad habits or have developed new healthier habits.

(Keep in mind that some bad habits may take a bit longer but don't give up,
be strong and stick to your goals.)

To help keep you on track over the the next 21 days write your progress down in a journal or use a calender to keep track of your progress as you head to that big red circled 21st day. Yes, you will find the first few days to be tough but you will find that your new commitment gets easier as you move forward.

Count each day that you have passed as a success and don't put yourself down
if you fail one day. Pick yourself up and start fresh with another new day.

5 simple reasons for breaking a bad habit.

1. It’s not fair to others:

One of the great universal laws ruling our wonderful planet says that you get back what you put out there.Want others to be kind and considerate to you? Then start putting the considerate, kind vibes out there and pick up your clothes, your dishes, and stop interrupting or whatever it is you or a collective “others” define as a bad habit.

2. It’s not fair to you:

I’m sure you’re a nice person, and you pride yourself on having generous, warmhearted traits. So, it’s not fair to you either that this simple, little, annoying thing you do can wield the power that it now, or will soon have. These tiny culprits have been known to ruin marriages, friendships, and cause the downfall of many a mighty person.
Plus you’ll feel better about yourself.

3. Your success depends on it:

Bad habits have a funny way of scope and context creep.
First they only happen in certain situations, and the next thing you know, you’re at a business function swirling your fingers through the chip dip. Put an end to it now before situations that require your utmost polish become tarnished by these terribly annoying little critters.

4. You probably don’t like it when others do the same thing:

Think about it. If someone did the same thing to you, would it bother you?
Be honest. Sometimes all it takes is a simple exercise in empathy to find the motivation to quit whatever it is we could benefit from stopping.

5. List your own reasons:

But be sincere. What is it costing you to perpetuate these habits?
Whether it’s a moment of peace, seemingly perpetual nagging, or simple anxiety resulting from anticipation of the next blow-up or negative comment, you owe it to yourself to commit to your ongoing personal development, and to the elimination of any behavior whose costs far outweigh the benefits.

Good luck!

What are some new ones you would like to develop?

Leave a comment here and please keep us informed of how you
are doing or what is working for you in your new habits.

We hope that you make us part of your new habits!

Have a confident and positive day.

JD