9 Beliefs You Need to Succeed from marcandangel.com

With Christmas behind us, presents put away and cleaning up after a great holiday in the works you may find yourself pondering your New Years resolution. You may also find yourself reflecting on your past year, what you did or didn't get to do, the changes that occurred, any losses or gains you endured. Rather than wait for the New Year why not start today by reading this and the other posts on this blog? 

Today's post has been borrowed from an amazing site called marcandangel.com. I hope it speaks to you as it did me. 

These beliefs have tremendous power and truth behind them. Just listen to them then take a moment to process them then DO THEM! 









1.  “The problems I face are opportunities.”

The problems and challenges you face are not there to stop you.  Their purpose is to bring your commitment to the surface where it can come wholly and forcefully to life.

The challenges that are the most difficult are often the ones that create the greatest positive difference.  Situations with the most formidable problems are where you unearth your greatest opportunities.

The only question is:  Are you willing to do what it takes?  Read Think and Grow Rich.

2.  “What’s important is creating value.”

Do something you are proud of.  Instead of struggling to get one up on everyoneelse, raise your awareness to the point where the competition becomes insignificant.  Get in the habit of creating real value, and you won’t feel the need to take anything away from others.

To be truly effective be sincere and helpful.  Find satisfaction and fulfillment in making a difference and pulling all of life forward with you.

3.  “I can’t anticipate everything, and that’s okay.”

There’s a difference between being prepared and being scared.

There’s much you can gain by planning and preparing, by anticipating what is most likely to happen and being ready for it.  Yet there is no reason to be paralyzed by over-thinking and endless worry, because you have what it takes to handle even the most unexpected setbacks.

And no matter how well you plan, not everything can be anticipated anyway, and that’s actually a good thing.  Sometimes when a roadblock forces you in a different direction, you cross paths with the opportunity of a lifetime.

4.  “My fears are often an indication that something is worth doing.”

Do not to be afraid of your fears.  Your fears are not here to scare you; they’re here to let you know that something you’re thinking about and considering is worth doing.

If you always feel afraid, it means that there are lots of things worth doing – lots of worthy options called opportunities.  It’s time to pick one and take a chance.

5.  “Passions and goals must be self-set.”

Just because someone tells you that you can’t do something doesn’t mean you have to let their opinion become your reality.  If you spend too much time reacting and responding to everyone else, you will lose YOUR direction in life.  These other people’s opinions, problems and wants will end up setting the course for your life.

So take a stand right now and say this to yourself out loud:  “It is OK for me to think about and identify what I want for myself.”  If you live by this statement, remarkable things will take place in your life.

6.  “My time is sacred.”

Maybe you can afford to procrastinate.  Maybe for you there’s a tomorrow.  Maybe for you there’s a thousand tomorrows, or ten thousand, or more.  Maybe you have so much time ahead of you that you can afford to spend it frivolously and foolishly without losing sleep.  There’s a whole lifetime worth of minutes you can waste.  Maybe…

But maybe not.  For some of us – perhaps for you or someone you love – there’s only today.  And the truth is, you never really know.  Read Eat That Frog!

7.  “Positive results are the outcome of positive daily actions.”

Your real religion is how you spend the majority of your time – what you do and think about on and daily basis long after the sermon has ended.  Do something that makes you proud.  Start walking the talk.  Make your strategic plan:  DOING THINGS THAT MATTER!

You don’t need a new year to make a change; all you need is today.  Make this the moment you start changing your life.

8.  “Perfection is a fantasy.”

Understanding the difference between healthy striving and striving for perfection is critical to laying down unnecessary weight and picking up your life.  Perfectionism hampers happiness and success.  It’s the path to depression, anxiety, addiction and life paralysis.

And this is true for your relationships as well…

Judge less, love more.  Flaws are features.  You don’t know a single perfect person, they don’t exist.  Who you do know are a bunch of flawed people who are still worth appreciating and loving.  If you try to avoid people for their little idiosyncrasies and shortcomings, this world will be a lonely place for you.  ReadPersonal Development for Smart People.

9.  “I am 100% responsible for my life.”

It’s easy to blame someone else for your troubles, but it doesn’t resolve anything.  Sure, at first it might seem reasonable to expect your problems to be solved by those who helped create them, but stop and think about it.  Do you want to give the people who created past problems for you any additional control over your future?

To move your life forward you must be willing to take full responsibility for it.  That means moving past what’s easy and accepting that you’re going to have to do things for yourself.  Perhaps life has given you a burden you don’t deserve.  Instead of seeing this as an excuse to give up, see it as an opportunity to take charge and give it all you’ve got.

You are stronger and more capable than you think.marcandangel.com

Adaptation From Desiderata

This poem was written by Max Ehrmann (1872–1945) and has been added to by an anonymous writer. These words mark the beginning of the age of enlightenment as deemed by the Mayan Calendar ending today December 21st 2012. In business and in life, follow these words and no matter how much or how little money you have you will find your personal enlightenment. 

After all, we can make all the money in the world but in the end of our days here on this beautiful Earth we will ask ourselves "what was it really all about". Keep striving but always follow these words. Copy them, paste them somewhere you can see them daily. 

Tomorrow morning with a sunrise at 7:49am (EST) means that today (the longest night) will be behind us and we move into longer and longer days until the Summer Solstice when we embrace the longest day of the year. 

Adaptation From Desiderata

(Desiderata - latin meaning Something that is needed or wanted. Desired things.)

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Find somebody to love, love what you do and always be excited about your future. When you find love give nothing but love, yet demand nothing in return.

Be a true friend, as being a friend is a gift you give to yourself.

Take kindly to the passing of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth, but never you health.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Spend your time wisely and only in the company of those that matter, as time is the only true currency you have.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. 

Be cheerful, be happy. 

Happy Solstice and cheers to the rebirth of the sun (and sunlight). 

7 Steps to The Real You

How many of us are floating around doing the things that we thought we should be doing to impress others? How many have not made the decision to set our standards as high as we can think to set them so that we feel comfortable and falsely happy?

Steps To Becoming The Real You:
VISION
1. Think of your dream life.
2. Write it down in a book where you can refer to it daily.
STANDARD
3. Refer to it daily. Don't be lazy.
4. Take the first step to achieve that dream. Be it a new job or even reading and researching it online.
5. Set a new standard of living for yourself. The standard means you have a MUST that you have to achieve on a daily basis. It could be that you MUST read an article a day about your dream.
BELIEVE
6. Everyday through thick and thin you must believe that you can achieve this dream. Keep the standards high and once you achieve them, set them higher.
7. Never stop thinking about your potential. If you conjured every bit of your energy and potential and put it to work you could actually physically and mentally do anything that you chose to do.

Yes that's it. 

Do it. 

Vision - Standard - Believe

Go ahead! Start NOW!

The Ultimate Master

I loved this article from businessinsider.com. If you have ever read any of Robert Greene's work you'll know that his words are life changing and will have you seeing life through ever changed eyes. 

27 Tips For Mastering Anything

By: Max Nisen and Aimee Groth

Source: businessinsider.com

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There's still a debate over whether people are born with innate talents, or develop their 

talent through intense practice.In his new book, "Mastery," Robert Greene argues that humans are hardwired to succeed and overcome, and with discipline and a number of concrete steps, anybody has the potential to become great.He looks through the biographies of historical geniuses, interviews contemporary masters, and draws from years of psychology research to distill steps anyone can follow to become a master.

Thanks to Greene for permission to excerpt his book .

STEP 1: FIND YOUR LIFE'S TASK

Red Bull Stratos Content Pool

Many people have an intense feeling about what they're best at. Too often, they're driven away from it by other people. The first step is to trust yourself and aim your career path at what's unique about you.Leonardo Da Vinci didn't come into his own as an artist alone, but when he followed his childhood curiosity about everything, he became an advisor and expert in subjects from architecture to anatomy for his patrons. 

Read the rest of this amazing article at :

www.businessinsider.com/robert-greenes-mastery-2012-11?op=1

Got To Give It Up!

In the words of Marvin Gaye  “Keep on dancin' You got to get it, Got to give it up!”

If any of you speak to me for any length of time you’ll eventually hear me tell you that “I’m starving my gadgets off” or “I’m so hungry I could eat my feet”. I admit to having a folder on my computer dedicated to junk food and fast food. I know that many people know that my husband and I have competed in the past for fitness and body building. I must quickly note here that I do not starve myself. I have a deep and intense love affair with food, however, food doesn’t always like me back. More on that later!

Let’s back up a touch for a minute though. I’ve noticed a huge trend for “detoxing” or for a “10 day challenge” and many of these include exercise and dietary changes for said challenges. I commend you as changing your dietary habit is one of the most difficult things you can do. Food is all around us and is so easy to succumb to. Especially if you can eat whatever, whenever and not suffer physically for eating it.

                                                           

                                                           (Admire from afar!)

Anyone that has committed to any challenge knows that once we endure one feat we start to look for the next to continue our growth. As I have mentioned in the past, giving things up is merely “becoming the person we need to become” to be successful at that particular thing.

As you go forth in your quest to give up spectacular, delicious and heart warming food I want to give you some perspective.

Picture this; you are overweight and eating everything in your path from chicken fingers dipped in ranch dressing, to burgers with bacon and cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, key lime pie, cakes, muffins, bagels, doughnuts, cheese buns, honey garlic ribs, chedder cheese melted on white bread, pizza! My stomach just got really angry at the thought and not the taste of these astounding treats. Then imagine that every time you eat one of these items you throw yourself on the floor because your gut feels like someone is stabbing it with a knife. You go from a very healthy weight of 150Lbs down to a scary 104Lbs in a matter of a few weeks. The doctors tell you that you have a disease called Crohn’s Disease (the inflammation of the intestine), that you will never be rid of it and that you will likely have to wear a colostomy bag (a bag that collects your waste, worn on the outside of your body...I know, very sexy) for a year after they remove part of your affected intestine.

You see a Naturopathic Doctor that tells you he can help you but you must drastically change your life. No wheat, gluten, dairy, red meat, sugar or pork. A.K.A. No muffins, ice cream, cookies, pizza, cheese, yogurt, milk, pop (soda) or anything that was your staple previously.

All you have to do is decide.

This is the moment your life changes. The point of decision.

It may seem extreme because you’re thinking about the fact that you don’t have that pain or problem and if you did it might even be helpful because then you simply can’t eat any of your oldies but goodies. Although it may be extreme, the principle still stands true. You can enjoy your favourites on occasion and you can admire them from afar (or in a file on your computer) and just decide that this is what you are doing. I promise it gets easier. Don’t ever think of it as a diet but rather your new way of living. As I mentioned in a past blog it becomes a part of who you are. Trust me, you will stand tall and proud knowing that you could have those things but you CHOOSE not to.

I commend you and I am utterly proud of you my friends. Keep it up.

Envision it. Live it. Be it. Because it’s YOU. 

For a little help with changing your diet completely and a complete diet plan system please visit my friend Jennifer. Her system is incredible and it works 100%. This is the system I used to avoid surgery for my severe Crohn's Disease for over 11 years. Invest a little in yourself and be well forever. 

Click here for Jennifer's site: http://c26b2mublirbnt96ppx5u0f6wr.hop.clickbank.net/  

 

The Professor

I'm stealing this next entry from someone as I don't know who wrote it but I loved it and thought it was so true. Fill your life with the things that actually matter most. As the holidays approach and you write out your long list of wants remember that the only thing that really matters is that you are surrounded by the people you love and that love you back. 

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles roll

ed into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

Just Doing It

"Maybe I led you to believe it was easy, when it wasn't. Maybe you're just making excuses..." - Micheal Jordan

One of the hardest things in life is to find the tenacity to keep going with a task when you aren't sure it can or will really work for you. What's the point of continuing on a path when you don't see immediate results? 

How many of you have started a gym membership or decided in the Springtime that this would be the year you get out there and DO THIS? Or, how many decided that for that next big event you would get in total shape and rock that dress or suit like no one else? This is AMAZING! You started! You did it! You signed up or you went out for your first run! Congratulations! Wait, pardon me? You stopped after a few runs? You got too busy for the gym?

What's really going on here in more cases than others is that we failed to see results we wanted quickly so we scrap the idea and move on. Then we tell ourselves things like "ahh whatever, I'm happy with how I am." We talk ourselves out of the idea and move on knowing in the back of our minds that we will try it again some day. The cycle continues and we never progress but rather we remain stagnant and we all know that stagnancy creates West Nile Virus, just saying.

Friends, I have news for you. I mean this as honest friendly advice. It's EASIER to give up.

A few years ago my husband decided he would become a professional all natural body builder. I, of course, decided to walk this path with him and begin my journey as a fitness competitor. I know what you're thinking "oh what the heck?! This doesn't relate to me or my journey!" Just bear with me for a few more sentences here. It was a passion I developed through time not in an instant so while I was eating nothing but grilled chicken breast with nothing on it, steamed broccoli with nothing on it and brown rice, you guessed it, with nothing on it I began to feel frustrated due to the fact that I wasn't seeing any results. I after all wasn't the one who wanted to do this anyway! I decided that because I had tried this "gym thing" in the past and I had given up easily that this time I would just put my head down, eat my boring food and create small challenges for myself week after week. The challenges were things like seeing if I could lift at least 5Lbs heavier every time I did that exercise again. I also thought "well, my husbands not going to give up so I can't just give up and stay home!" a.k.a. "I can't let him get all ripped and sexy and leave me in the dust!". Five days a week for 2.5 - 3 hours a day in the gym, it was gruelling and hard. It was heavy and I was hungry. 

One day as we did "weigh in's" with one another my husband said to me "uum wow, did you want to put away your ripped shoulders? You're putting me to shame here!" I looked in the mirror and gasped! I had stunning athletic arms and shoulders, glutes that rocked in my jeans, bi-ceps that the other gym dude's commented on and yes...oh yes...ABS! Once I saw this small bit of progress emerging from my skin I realised, I was DOING IT.

Any task I have ever encountered in my life I have attacked as I did fitness. We all work so hard doing the things we need to do to make our dreams happen and we may feel that we NEVER see results. It's a difficult thing to keep working on when we aren't sure if it will work at all. I used to 100% agree with this until I perceived challenges differently; I had to try to find a way to relate anything I faced to a real trait I (and you) possess. When I decided to just do whatever it was I was facing I made it a lifestyle, not just something I "worked for". I decided that with challenge I faced I would apply the same effort and theory that I used with fitness. I thought "I'll just put my head down and do the work" and then all of a sudden there it is, success right in front of you.

Whatever you do, keep going. Keep the determination. No matter what anyone says. Make it a lifestyle choice not a thing you have to do.

It's not work, it's just who you are. So go do it. Go get your 6-pack abs in whatever it is you desire. Just put your head down and make it who you are and one by one those abs will show themselves. 

Building Your Financial Fortress

“The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” - Chinese Proverb

“There ain’t no easy way out.” - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (aka The Rocky Song)

It has been brought to my attention that building your financial fortress entails more than one stream of income. This thought may not suit everyone depending on your life goals and dreams. For many of you trading every day IS your life dream and I applaud you for that. Trading the markets has definitely become a very important part of my life and who I am as a person. However, trading is one small aspect of myself that I have developed over a period of time.

In a recent (and most inspiring) conversation that I had with a fellow trader this was pointed out to me in a most effective and illustrated manner. I had been blinded by the fact that I wanted to achieve all of my wealth from one avenue of income. Most of you who know me, know that I am far too hyper to sit quietly and work at one thing day in and day out.

As I sat in my office dreaming of all the things I could incorporate alongside my trading business I realised I had so many other interests that completely inspired me that I actually became side tracked and upset about the fact that I had so many things I could do! Imagine that! What a fantastic “problem” to have!

Then I realised that to build my fortress I had to start the foundation with one brick at a time.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I adore trading! But I wanted so much more in order to create the desired automated income. In the next little while as the markets correct themselves and/or establish a new trend I will tend to sit on the sidelines and wait for a good set up. In that time I wanted to be able to have another source of income rather than rely solely on the markets.

To me, trading is one of my bricks. When I start to imagine all the possibilities of the other bricks (or pillars holding up the financial fortress) I feel an excitement that I can’t contain. This realisation has changed my life forever and I thank the woman who pointed it out to me.

Cheers to you girl! You know who you are.

What are some of the pillars (either existing or not yet in action) that are holding up (or will be holding up) your financial fortress?