Searching for the Holy-Grail of Work - Life Balance

Just coming off a vacation gives me a good chance to think about work-life balance.

As leaders and achievers it is a topic often discussed in workshops and in casual conversations. People are so busy and feel pulled in so many directions that they find this idea of work-life balance elusive.

Let's start with three truths about this topic, then share some strategies to help you move toward the work-life balance you desire.

Three Truths

Judgment gets in the way. One work-life balance challenge is that most people deal with guilt and judgment. Many live in a land of "should" - you should do that next report, make one more call, read that new book. And, at the same time, you should be home; you should spend time with your spouse, friends, kids, etc. And the judgment doesn't stop there - it extends, real or imagined, to other in your life. Colleagues wonder when you will get something done, while people in the rest of your life wonder when you will be home. All these judgments, internal and external, real and imagined, get in the way of finding the balance you seek.

Work-life balance isn't static. One mistake is thinking you can find work-life balance like it's a "thing" or a "place". You find a book or a new couch. You reach a destination. Work-life balance isn't that tangible or permanent, which means it's variable. Like balancing a scale, your time and focus will necessarily shift more heavily one way, then the other, based on situations and circumstances. To assume you can reach a balanced spot for more than a short time is folly.

There is no perfect. Your balance isn't static, and it isn't perfect. When you consider work-life balance to be a journey, you will have a healthy approach to it. While judgment gets in the way, so does comparison. People often look at others who appear to have the ?ideal' balance and try to emulate them. This is also a mistake because your balance must be based on your values (more on this in a second) and your needs. You won't reach your perfect by emulating someone else.

Four Tips

Focus on values. The best place to start finding your work-life balance is with your values. Your balance will be defined by your values. The things you value most should, over time, occupy the most of your time, thought and energy. Once you are clear on your values you can map your activities and time to them. When you do that your ability to understand your perfect balance will be clearer and therefore easier to achieve.

Be present. Balance isn't about raw number of hours. It's about being present where you are at all times. When you are home, are you on your laptop or are you communicating with and interacting with those you care about? When you are at work are you focused on your work or checking your eBay listings? A big part of balance is being present, in real time, in each situation. Not only will this help you be more balanced, it will allow you to be more satisfied with the moments of your life.

Eliminate unnecessary activities. One practical way to find more balance is to take things out of your calendar that aren't important or necessary. As you get more ruthless with your calendar, you get more time back that can be devoted to any portion of your life you wish. Look closely at your calendar and eliminate what you can to give more time to your most important things.

Get feedback. One way to stay on the journey is to ask people in your life how they think you are doing on your work-life balance. Their perspective, especially the most important people in your life, will be valuable to help you from getting too far off track one direction or another.

Work-life balance is a topic worthy of your ongoing consideration and thinking.

This article won't solve all of your balance problems, but hopefully gives you ideas and food for thought as you continue on your personal path to your perfect balance.

About The Author
Kevin is a bestselling author, speaker, trainer, consultant and the Chief Potential Officer of the Kevin Eikenberry Group http://www.KevinEikenberry.com
The best leaders know they must find balance. That?s one reason why many leaders from around the world have made the Remarkable Leadership Learning System their choice as a one skill at a time, one month at a time approach to becoming a more confident and successful leader. This system allows you to learn without travel and access your learning materials whenever it works best for you. Get more than $748.25 worth of leadership development materials including two complimentary months of that unique system as part of Kevin's Most Remarkable Free Leadership Gift Ever today at http://MostRemarkableFreeLeadershipGiftEver.com.

How To Set Healthy Boundaries That Contribute To A Healthy, Happy Lifestyle

Have you ever wondered why you work hard in some areas of your life but just don't seem to move forward the way you think you should? Does it sometimes feel to you that your energy is going out - but nothing is coming back. It might very well be that you need to assess your personal boundaries in these areas. It's often necessary to negotiate some difficulties when this happens and this article helps you to face the issues and work through them, step-by-step. The liberation and sense of self-worth you can achieve by doing this is well worth the effort.

Firstly, it's very likely that you may well not always recognise the difference between appropriate and non-appropriate behaviour from others. You may get respect in some areas and not in other areas. you may be willing to tolerate rudeness, pain, abuse of your rights and bad behaviour because that's been the norm for you. It may take a while for you to sift through to your true feelings to start to create a picture of what is good for YOU. You may need time to recognise when something hurts you - or damages your self-esteem: your finances: your family: or your physical self, and that's absolutely fine. The main thing to do, is to start the process and treat it as an on-going effort.

But where do you start? I suggest that you highlight just one area in your life in which you are currently unhappy, angry, exhausted or sad? and don't over face yourself by tackling the biggest one to start with unless you are ready for a big change . You need to honestly examine the following factors: -

What is it EXACTLY about the situation that you don't like? (e.g. the way you feel: the consequences of it: the effects on others.)

What is making you feel angry, sad, threatened, suffocated or victimized?

What is it that you get from acting the way you do now? (e.g. avoiding confrontation: maintaining peace: feeling safe: etc.)

What could you say or do differently to change the situation ? without losing your self-esteem? (e.g. speak up for yourself: respond differently: say "no": say "yes", ask for help)

How could you speak up for yourself in a way that feels safe and respectful.

How could you act in a way that supports you and your needs?

What would you do if you were not scared or tired, and how would you do it in such a way that you do not harm yourself or anyone else (and by harm I do not mean you cannot be angry: By this I mean you need to recognise natural feelings of resentment or spite and avoid using them to manipulate, hurt or deceive in order to set your new boundary).

I suggest you do this at a time when you are not 'triggered' by the situation. Choose a time when you feel calm and have some space to think things through. Writing down your answers, just jotting a few key words even ? can be very revealing and helpful.

It's also a great idea to find people and groups who you perceive as having the kind of attitudes and behaviours that you would like to have, and to ask for support and ideas. I have found that by sharing some of my "stories" with others I learn a lot. Healthy networks and friends can teach and support you in so many ways, if you are willing to share your issues.

About The Author
Debs de Vries is the U.K.'s leading provider of relaxation and guided imagery downloadable recordings and CDs. Her work in the field of wellness and wellbeing includes coaching, and a membership site to show people how to create wellbeing and wellness in their daily lives, with minimal fuss and maximum benefit. Go to: http://wellbeingsecrets.co.uk now to sign up for free newsletters AND http;//thewellnessaudioshop.co.uk for samples of recordings.

Drop Your Great Expectations And Live Lightly

Life is complicated, so as they say. But let me tell you something; it only becomes so when you got some great expectations. It's just a tiny thing to change: stop expecting. I know it takes practice to do so. If you can see things as they are without having great expectations, then life will be easier.

Expectations can only leave us frustrated, disappointed, or resentful if we don't get what we expect. Actually, it's only our expectations which makes us judge something (or some people) as good or bad.

When others (your friends, colleagues, lover, family member) disappoint you because you expect something of them and they don't live up to your expectations, it's no longer their fault, but your expectation's.

They're just being who they are. Who were they to know that you're expecting them to your own preferences?

You can still live lightly, by taking small baby steps.

* Be aware and especially when you notice yourself having great expectations, take a deep breath and remind yourself, "Good day or bad day, no expectations." Repeat this to yourself till it becomes ingrained in your mind.

* See things or people as they are, sans forming your own assumptions or judgments. Why do you think certain people act like the way they do? Get curious and empathize and put yourself in their shoes. Would you act the same way if that happened to you? That saleslady was rude to you maybe because her boss berated her or is down with sickness. Try to be more understanding.

* Be more accepting. Don't try to overreact just because something didn't happen as you wanted. You have no control of other people, their lives, or their attitude--but your reaction, you can always control it.

Life can be more beautiful and exciting with some of its cosmic twists and surprises here and there, they may not be always in our favor, but they can always teach us some valuable lessons along the way.

About The Author
The author of this article, Amy Twain, is a Self Improvement Coach who has been successfully coaching and guiding clients for many years. Amy recently published a home study course on how to have an improved self esteem . Alternatively click here for Amazon's Kindle Edition.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves - Spiritual Life Coaching

God helps those who help themselves. You ever heard that before?

I notice with some of my clients are visioning, visualizing, writing out their goals and affirmations, but they're not taking any action. They aren't getting the results that they want.

Now, I notice that also there's another truth here. Some of my clients do no visioning, do no goals, do no dreaming, and I'd like to propose that the visioning, the goals, the affirmations, the dreaming- those are modern day ways of connecting to God.

The clients that don't do any of that accomplish things, but they accomplish with great struggle. Everything is a struggle. Everything is hard.

Then I have other clients who are doing all the visioning, all the affirmations. They are writing the goals. They're dreaming. They're doing the inner work, all of that, but they're taking no action. And they are experiencing some happiness, but they're also experiencing a lot of doubt and uncertainty. They're fighting against the fact that things aren't happening the way that they want, and the mistake is that God helps those who help themselves.

You can't just do the visioning. You gotta do the action as well. And you can't just do the action. You gotta do the visioning as well. You gotta do the inner work and the outer work. When you do both, everything begins to work very, very rapidly, and your life starts to happen quickly and in an easy, effortless, and enjoyable way.

About The Author
That's where a life coach comes in. My specialty as a life coach is to help you make those decisions, and I would be honored to help you if that's appropriate.Matthew Ferry a Life Coach, The Life Coaching Company Matthew Ferry International offers life coaching, Life Coach Training, law of attraction and dozens of training products and seminars relating to the law of attraction to help you find your passion and love your life.

Achieve Your Goals - Now

First and foremost, do you have goals? And second of all, do you have those essential reasons behind your goals that make you more driven and say to yourself that you do the very things that inch you toward them? In short, do you have reasons to be serious enough in aspiring and ultimately, reach those objectives? A favorite saying of someone I know is (and I have heard over the past few years), "the solutions or answers are often apparent once you get the questions right." Anyway, here are a few questions worth considering that may help you accomplish your desired purposes perhaps even sooner than you think.

1.) Am I even inspired to reach my goals? 2.) Is what am I doing at this moment moving me toward my goals? 3.) Am I truly serious about accomplishing my goals or are these goals just something that will be nice to have? 4.) Does my action or behavior moves me closer or much farther from my objectives? 5.) Of all the things I can be doing at this moment with my time, is this truly the best and effective thing I could do right now to move me closer to my dreams? Or maybe am I only rationalizing that this is moving me closer to my dreams because I'm unable or not willing to do what I know really needs to be done? A friendly bit of advice: Do those things that bring you much closer to your desired purposes, and stop doing those things that do not bring you toward your objectives.

Okay, some people might react, "well, you think it's that simple, it's not that simple!" alright-are you sure about that? Because it is possibly and really not that complicated as you think. These days, most of the things you should do should move you closer to your dreams. We actually encourage you to ponder on the question, "What will happen if most of what I did or said moved me closer and closer toward my aspirations?" See, no one is suggesting you to be perfect.

If you feel you aren't moving as fast as you would like closer to your goals, chances are that there is a very huge gap between your most-of-the-time attitude and your current attitude that the objectives need to reach for them. Grab the opportunity and take advantage of the fact that in your hands lays your ability to change all that.

So...what are you waiting for--just change it now! The more reasons you have for attaining your desired purpose, the more likely you are to accomplish things that your dreams require in achieving them. Your dreams are your tangible what-and your values are the emotional why behind your dreams. To be perfect is actually not a necessary requirement.

Simply get on with the "Program" so you could attain these goals for the reasons that are significant in your life's happiness. Go ahead, enjoy the results and don't forget to have fun along the way.

About The Author
The author of this article, Amy Twain, is a Self Improvement Coach who has been successfully coaching and guiding clients for many years. Amy recently published a new home study course on how to boost your Self Esteem. Click here to get more info about her Quick-Action Plan for A More Confident You.

Control Yourself and Change Your Life

It's funny - if that's the right word for it - so many people get so frustrated because they feel that they're not in control of their own lives. And the irony is that almost none of these people will take control of the one thing in their lives over which they can exercise absolute and total control - their own state of mind.

A couple of important points before we talk about state of mind. First of all, you're not in control of your life and you never will be - there are just too many variables at play for you to be able to control them, to say nothing of the fact that you cannot control anyone else at all. Secondly - and this is the really important point - you can influence others and greatly influence the course of your life but only if you're in control of your own mind. It's not hard to understand why most people become so frustrated!

If you're normal - and there's an overwhelming chance that you are - your mind is all over the place. From the normal ordinary distraction from which the average mind suffers every day, to the more deeply-rooted ravings and wanderings of the subconscious mind (you're not aware that it's going on - but it is - it's subconscious!) the normal mind is completely and utterly out of control. If you're not in control of your own state of mind you have no chance whatsoever of influencing the course of your life - except, perhaps, from the perspective that you could make it worse than it already is!

If you want to influence the course of your life, if you want to change your life for the better, you're going to have to grab control of the levers of power in your own head - you're going to have to start pushing your own buttons and turning yourself on! At the moment, you're switched off - your subconscious is idling in the past, thinking that it's the present, your conscious mind is idling in the future, worrying that what it doesn't want to happen will actually happen - there's very little of you focused on living your life at all.

Gaining control of your own mind means that you will be able to decide to, say, take some important action in your life without your mad mind showering you with dozens of excuses and reasons why you cannot take that action. You'll be able to wave bye-bye to worry - because worry's only a thought that you, because you're not already in control, have decided to focus on. Stress will pack its bags and be on the same flight as worry! Stress is only you thinking that you're stressed! And all your feelings of inadequacy will be stripped bare are recognized for what they are - a load of useless thought that you've been dragging around with you all of your adult life. Your inadequacies are perceptions that you've chosen to believe because, once again, you haven't already taken control of your mind.

Think of the liberation - think of what you'll be able to do - think about how much more fun life could be - think of the carefree life that you'll be able to live. No, don't think about it - do it. Take control of the one and only thing that you can control in your life and everything else will fall into place. To control your mind you need to understand that it makes sense of your world and who you think you are by using your five senses. However, what you see, feel, hear, smell and taste is filtered through your 'stored knowledge' - the view that you have of you and the world that has been dragging you down for years. This filtering process has been ruining your life by warping reality into what now passes for your normal life. This filtering happens automatically - but you can stop it because, once upon a time, you lived, loved and laughed without that filter in place - when you were a young child.

You've got to become childlike - in the clear state of mind that you were in as a child, when you had no baggage, didn't see life through some dirt-encrusted filter - when you were all there, fully alive. What you have to do is stop your filtering process and see, feel, hear, smell and taste your life today for what it really is, not what you think it is. When you stop filtering you start living - you begin to realize that life is, in fact, full of potential upside, not overwhelmed with downside. You begin to understand that there are things that you can do that you never believed possible - because your beliefs were based on false, out of date, personal baggage.

So, come to your senses. Start putting time aside, every single day, to simply focus on what you see, feel, hear, smell and taste. Start re-training your mind to pay full attention to what's real and, in doing so, pay no attention at all to the unreal world of your habitual useless thoughts. Once you drop your filter, once you take control, everything in your life will change - you'll become the director of your own orchestra, the creator of your own life - a life that's really worth living.

About The Author
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

Reinventing Your Life After Leaving Your Job Is Easy When You Follow This 5 Stage Process

Have you ever been surprised by how someone's view of you is different from how you see, or think, of yourself?

This has happened to be three times that I can recall. The first was my child-minder who described me as cool, together and organised. I, on the other hand, always felt rushed and arrived having left half of what I need someplace else.

The second was when a consultant told me I had an amazingly logical approach to organising information. Wow!

The third was when I was told I had a magnetic personality, whilst I felt a dull and rather frumpy. That one was life changing.

Sometimes, the revelation of the real us to outsiders, can be pleasant, whilst at others times it can be a reminder of how easy it is to lose sight of ourselves.

Losing who we are, is often the result of living out daily roles - soldier, pilot, caring mother, loyal husband - and as we become used to living the role, it is easy to neglect other parts of ourselves. Before we realise, we're trapped in a groove that we didn't imagine or want, or a role that we outgrew long ago but, which still lingers on like Banquo's ghost. We've gone away from who we really are.

If we stray too far from our authentic self then we can feel stuck. Feelings of staleness, being unchallenged, agitation and boredom are an indication that we're heading, or have already arrived, at this point.

If you've made a change away from your former life, such as leaving the armed forces, or leaving a long term career, then hanging on albeit it unwittingly, to the old role and the old you can be deadly.

The statistics surrounding the number of ex armed force's personnel who are living on the streets, or are in prison, are startling. We have to wonder why previously organised and prosperous individuals floundered so desperately after leaving the armed forces. Could it be that they are still living within their previous role and identity, but are now outside of the service where that life existed?

Possibly the best way out of an impasse and to head of a catastrophe after a role changes is to embrace the process of reinvention.

Reinvention is more than a new wardrobe and a funky hairdo. It's a deep internal change which affects you, and how you interact with your environment. Such a change starts byF considering your existing values and deciding who you want to be. And then making that change.

A while ago I examined my values and realised that one of my top priorities was being secure. What did this mean? For me it meant being employed in an institution for years and steadfastly ignoring the boredom and lack of fulfillment and kidding myself that promotion made it worthwhile. It also meant staying in a loveless marriage with a hard working (secure) individual, instead of cracking out on my own.

By changing my top values to freedom and happiness, my life changed. Could Richard Branson be the Richard Branson we know if his top value was security? No. So, if you want to be like Richard Branson, you will need to take on some of his values. You don't need to know him intimately to do this, you can just imagine what his values would have to be to generate the public persona.

That's stage one in the reinvention process.

Stage two is to realise you are the CEO of your own company. You always have been. Now what sort of a company are you running? Is it fuddy duddy, or out there on the cutting edge? You need to create your own brand, so are you a Werthers Original Toffee or Yoi Sushi?

Stage 3 is to write your life story. Get down on paper where you are heading, and what you want to be doing one week, one month, one year and ten years henceforth.

Stage 4 is to set up your personal stall of products. So, what have you got to offer? If you could step forward one year and look back at what you have achieved, and the value you have added to the world, would you be content?

Stage 5 is to ask yourself how you relate to others, and to do this in two ways. Firstly, we make decisions which impact on other people, so lets consider the effect. Secondly, are we being unduly influenced by those around us?

Do people have a hold on us, we are not aware of?

It can be shocking to many people to discover how much of their daily and life decisions, and actions, are driven by what others might think, instead of what they want to do to create a fulfilling life.

Finally, a bit of a heads up about reinventing yourself. It can be scary and exiting, for you and those around you. If you are getting resistance from loved ones about the changes, then offer reassurance, but not that everything will stay the same, because it won't. Offer reassurance that everything will be progressing, because whatever the outcome, reinvention always leads to forward motion.

About The Author
Sian Murphy combines professional management (MInstLM) & certified NLP techniques . She co-founded Leaving The Armed Forces with ex soldier and husband Mark Jennings. Mark was surprised to find he was struggling to fit in with civilian life and business after the army, and today they use their experiences and skills to help other service leavers. You can download your free 30 page report here
http://www.leavingthearmedforces.com/freereport

What Kills Our Passion?

I have a friend, really I do, that has one of the most uninspiring, soul drain, passion killing habits that I have ever seen. This friend packs his lunch everyday. No, that's not the U.S.D.P.K part of it all. He packs his lunch on a Sunday night for the week, and every sandwich is the same. He has Devon (yuck) with tomato sauce. Every. Single. Day.

Oh my God. I mean, I hate Devon, especially the old party favourite of Devon wrapped around cold mashed potato (oh yes that was the FANCY treat of the 70's). But that's not the main point either. It's the fact that his lunch is so, well, boring.

I hate to see he is what he is like in the rest of his life. What's he day like? What's his entertainment like. What's he like in bed? Well maybe I don't want to know that last one. I just don't understand how anybody can be like that. How can anybody be so repetitive? How can anybody be so repetitive?

You see, it's the boring, mundane, repetitive stuff in life that kills out passion. How can we be expected to love, or hate, if we are just bored with the world? We see the same people every day, we do the same things, we eat the same food, and we just get dull.

You think about when you first meet somebody new that you like, really like. You feel alive, your heart races, you want to be with them, do new thing together and go new place. It's great. That new love gets you living again.

But after a couple of years, you get tired of the same old jokes, the snoring, the picking of the nose, the butt scratching and all the bad habits. Work, debts and the demands of the kids stops you from being inventive. You fall into a routine, and before you know it Romeo is gone and all that is left is Homer Simpson.

Life gets so dull that while you stop putting out the love, you can't even care about the injustices of the world anymore either. Who cares if Kev and Jules's have a fight and someone stabbed someone in the back. You don't care about the Gulf and the sick birdies; you just want to know that you can still fill your car up liquefied dinosaurs.
The only thing that you have left with passion is a small seedy fruit that goes well on ice-cream. And the major problem for most people is that they don't even know that this has happened to their lives. They are so uninterested in what is going on in their lives; they can't even tell that they are drowning in dreariness.

Think about this. When was the last time you went on holidays and got away from the routine? When was the last time you went out to dinner somewhere different? When was the last time you went to a party and you all through your keys into a bowl? Went was the last time you did something new. And by new I don't mean swapping Devon for Empire Meat.

Break of the shackles of the routine. Throw of the chains of boredom. Pick out a new set of keys. But for heaven's sake, do something different. Take a chance, do a dance or find a new romance. But be different.

You will be happier, and you will be living a better life.

Terry Shadwell

P.S. My keys have a pink bunny on them.

About The Author
Terry Shadwell invites you to learn more about how to create your own wealth online. Through easy to follow steps, you will soon be making more money than you ever though possible. Follow the link to change your life forever http://terryshadwell.blogspot.com

What About Today?

"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness."

-James Thurber

Do you wake up each day looking forward to it or do you dread getting through it? Are you re-living the past over and over again or living in fear and anxiety of what the future may bring? Begin to realize that what happened in the past and how and why it happened are merely tools to help build a foundation that will make you stronger in the future.

When you allow yourself to be hostage to dwelling on the past or hostage to thinking fearfully about the future you miss out on all you really have which is right now.

Each day is a new opportunity to get it right or do it better. We all make mistakes and have things happen that we wish didn't. But, unless you let go of what happened and stop worrying about the future you might as well forget about today.

So often people are so consumed about why, what if, if only and how that they miss out on today. Just for today release yourself from the mental prison you're locked in and go out and breathe in the new day. Look around and see this day as a gift. Tear off the ribbons and bows and dive into the "present" and really enjoy it.

The clich-live each day as if it's your last isn't such a bad philosophy especially when you're living each day in only memories and regrets or bogged down by your fears of what's to come.

The real regret is when you are given a new chance to enjoy your life and all you do is waste it away by thinking thoughts that hold you down. No one can control what you think, what you say or what you do, but you.

So decide if you are going to be one of those people who allow the adversities in life to take you down and not get up or if you are going to still have a great life in spite of things happening.

Don't let all of the gifts you've been given and the blessings you have go unnoticed. Starting today, make a list of all the reasons today is a good day and appreciate it. Instead of dwelling on negative, toxic things try dwelling on what's good. Learn to be in the moment and leave the rest behind, it's worth it!

About The Author
Susan Russo is an author and coach whose work has inspired people from all over the world to take back their power! Would you like to empower yourself to do the same? Discover Susan's 7 Keys to unlock your power by picking up your FREE report at: http://www.susanrusso.com

Accomplishing Your Success Plan In Life

What is your success plan? Life is a mystery and different people interpret it differently according to how they perceive life to be. Others remain puzzled by the meaning of life and rather than lead a constructive life, spend their time wishing and asking questions such as; what is the essence of life? What is my purpose in life? What is the recipe for success?

I have often heard the saying that, 'lack of planning for success is planning for failure.' To me this is gospel truth. In reality there is no specific recipe for a success plan, as the term is relative but I choose to define success in two terms; purpose and initiative.

Everyone must have a deep longing for something so as to succeed. This desire should not be quenched by anything less but the targeted subject. Individuals should also be self-confident and self-assured of excellence so as to avoid any influence to the contrary. This is because, the environment we live in usually has a shaping effect on your destiny and you must exert control over your life and future to ensure that your success plan is accomplished.

Apart from being purposeful one has to take the initiative to go for the big prize. One should practically go every step of the way towards their desired destination, because any delays and procrastination will automatically mean failure of a success plan. Do not allow nature to take charge and decide the way to go.

Thus if you believe in achievements you must take a positive, voluntary and conscious first step towards fulfilling your dream and success plan. It is worth noting here that success is no ordinary undertaking. If you want it go for it in an extraordinary manner. Put yourself way above your expectations and cross the mediocrity barrier. It is said that those who wash their hands, dine with the kings.

About The Author
Stephen shares his wisdom and experience on Success Plan that will definitely add value to your life. Visit his Inspirational and Motivational Website at: http://onlineselfimprovement.blogspot.com and start living a purposeful life.

De-Clutter Your Life

Dr. Rick Schaefer, Law of Attraction Expert and Life Coach, offers one of the lessons contained in his new book "Extreme Thought Makeover". His book is collection of daily lessons designed to help people bring more abundance and joy into their lives.

Book Excerpt: Day 10 Detachment

Day 10 - Detachment: Toss Something Out

In order to achieve a feeling of total security and total freedom, it is necessary to let go of our attachment to physical things. Detachment holds the wisdom of uncertainty and possibilities. When you embrace uncertainty, you will find security. When you embrace possibilities, you will find freedom. A simple first step toward detachment is letting go of small physical items. Let's get started!

Today, get rid of one thing. It could be a pair of shoes, a knick-knack, or an old souvenir glass. Just pick one thing and give it away, recycle it, throw it away, or put it in the garage for a future "Give-Away Day" (see below for more on this idea). This physical action is a representation of clearing mental space for clear and creative thinking, and when made habit, can transform the way you interact with your physical and emotional environment profoundly. Think about the stuff you have that clutters your living space. Where to begin? Well, you could start a "five year rule" for clothing, for example. That's an easy one: if you haven't worn it for five years, you will definitely not miss it! Perhaps even a two-year rule? One year? Just because you haven't exercised your throwing-away muscles in a while, doesn't mean you can't start somewhere ? like with a coffee mug from the back of the cupboard. Don't worry that it is in great condition or that you paid good money for it, it is the getting-rid-of energy that will be far more valuable to you, and the value will come back to you many fold.

As your physical space becomes more and more clear, you will find that previously cluttered areas give way to empty space, allowing for a mental shift from the focus of "what is" to the focus of endless possibilities. Your living space will become a blank canvas upon which anything can be created, in any moment.

De-cluttering feels like clearing your stuff, but it is actually clearing your mind. Jumbled, crowded thoughts will give way to clarity and focus. Creative energy will emerge in the space vacuum you have created for it. Your new thinking will have the room it needs to be powerful and inspiring!

A continuation of this exercise for the future is to have a "Give-Away Day." Fill the garage bit by bit with all the stuff you have uncluttered through your new daily attitude of detaching. When it really starts to pile up, call your friends and invite them to come and get all your stuff. They will go crazy and really create a great memory for themselves and for you. Plus, the objects themselves will have a much more useful and vibrant life in their new home.

In detachment lies the wisdom of uncertainty, and in uncertainty lies freedom from our past: from the known. It is also where limitless possibilities are found. Stay open to the possibilities by manifesting an attitude of detachment in your physical environment today.

'Simplicity is the most difficult thing to achieve in this world; it is the last limit of experience and the last effort of genius.

- George Sand'

Dr. Schaefer concluded "there are many simple lessons in the book, and my hope is that many people will find their life becoming more fulfilling, more joyful, and more abundant by doing these lessons."

Dr. Rick is available for personal coaching. For more information on his coaching, or his revolutionary program Extreme Thought Makeover, visit http://www.rickschaefermd.com


About The Author
Dr. Rick Schaefer is the author and can provide additional ways to help you improve and elevate your mood, thoughts and life experiences, in simple yet lasting daily lessons through his revolutionary new program "Extreme Thought Makeover: 37 Days to Maximum Life!" Read about his program at Law of Attraction

Ambitious - Not Any Road Will Do

We esteem grit and determination, celebrate fortune and honor the victorious, yet we deride an ugly twist of fate often going so far as to divorce the individual from any culpability for the state of affairs. For if another is responsible for the pain and suffering in his or her life, might I be responsible for the pain and suffering in mine?

What in this life are you responsible for? Which road should you choose?

For those without ambition, any road will do. For those with a destination in mind, the road matters. Your navigation aid is your ability to choose.

Though the epic story, the grand design and even the nuances of the environment are clearly beyond the individual, it is the choices you make that most directly influence the circumstances and the quality of your journey.

While you may not be able to choose the strength or the direction of the prevailing wind, you can choose to hoist, set or strike your sails. You have at your disposal assets to leverage, both seen and unseen. The course and pace of the journey are up to you. No matter the proximity to your destination, recognize it is the joy in the adventure that matters.

The strength of your ambition and the choices you make to negotiate the obstacles along the way determine the success not only in your life but of your life.

The road before you is paved with choices. The choices are often not easy or pain free. Few are born to wealth and privilege, many face daunting challenges. You can expect to endure hardship and suffer losses, but count your blessings; challenges build character.

Despite humble beginnings and persistent obstacles realize you are meant to succeed in this life. You are here to fulfill a divine purpose. You have the tools at hand and the help you need standing by to achieve your purpose.

Exercise your will to choose. Choose a worthy destination. Pursue your greatest ambition and persevere in your choice to experience an extraordinary journey.

The events of life, taken together, form a grand mosaic. Your contribution to this mosaic is time well spent, energy well invested. Success is not a life of comfort or indecision and fear, rather success is marked by ambition, trials and triumph. Each event, for its part, is shaped by a small decision to act - to proceed - a thoughtful choice. Choose wisely, for the ambitious not any road will do.

About The Author
Scott F. Paradis, author of "Promise and Potential: A Life of Wisdom, Courage, Strength and Will" http://www.promiseandpotential.com publishes "Insights" and a free weekly ezine, "Money, Power and the True Path to Prosperity". Subscribe now at http://www.c-achieve.com

Moments of Clarity: The Power of Claiming Your Life

It's exactly 12:37 on a sunny Friday afternoon. A woman steps inside her usual lunch time café. The restaurant hasn't changed. It's still jam-packed with a stampede of employees from surrounding office buildings from this busy section of town. The usual "Today's Special" is listed in blue dry eraser ink on the same white dry eraser chalk board. The usual grill men are grilling, the cashiers are cashing and the same smell of pasta, hamburgers and bacon fill the air. Like I said it's a regular day and nothing has changed in this café, nothing except one thing: the women who walked in this café has changed.

This familiar lady has a new attitude. Her radiant smile lights up the room. Her head is held high. What happened to her? I'll tell you: Last night with tears of pain and relief she decided once and for all that she wanted more out of her life. She was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

She looked in the mirror and said: "I'm going to bet on ME!" Don't worry; she doesn't usually talk to herself out loud. This was a huge moment for her. I'd call her it her moment of "Clarity".

The world didn't stop spinning, HBO is still playing reruns of "Sex In The City" and "Girl Friends" is still on UPN. No one else on the planet knew about her decision, only her.

This woman now did something that was long overdue, she picked up the phone and called her man of exactly 15 months, 3 weeks and 4 days. 11 days earlier she asked him to make a decision about committing fully to their relationship. He asked for a week to think it over. It was now 4 days pass the 7-day thinking it over period. When he answered the phone she dumped him. Puzzled, he asked: "Why are you being so cold baby?" She smiled, looked at the phone and slowly responded: "This is my life and I'm claiming it; starting tonight". Click.

Then the woman did something else she'd been meaning to do. She placed a second call; this one was to her big sister. Six months earlier the sisters had a terrible argument over money. The big sister had it, and as usual the little sister needed it, but this time big sis' refused to send it. On several occasions big sis' saved the day so of course the argument was silly. The lady also knew the cruel words she spoke to her sister were uncalled for and hurtful.

Tonight,she apologized from her heart. The sisters cried, laughed and made up. Big sis' offered to still send the money, but Little sis' refused; "Treat yourself to something nice for a change, you deserve it!"

The point of the story is; We all have the power to take back our lives. Our most important decisions are made during our moments of clarity.

Embrace your moments of clarity. Claim your life today!

The woman walked out of the café feeling brand new so "why not try a new spot?" Across the street sat a new Thai restaurant that she'd heard was fabulous. Today she was going to try it. She strutted into the restaurant. A smiling waitress kindly led her to a charming table seated near the window. "Are you ready to place your order?", Our friend smiled and responded: "I'm feeling spontaneous today, do me a favor sweetie, surprise me!"

About The Author
Timothy Crawford is a professional motivational - Inspirational Speaker. Timothy's inspiring messages, natural charisma and engaging personality leave his audiences with a sense of urgency to make positive changes in their lives. An informative, writer and empowering speaker with a sincere interest in people equips Timothy to impact his audiences with an optimismtic "Will Do" theme. Timothy's motto is simply "Claim Your Life". For more information about this exciting writer and speaker visit his website. Be Inspired.

How to Have a Beautiful Life in a Mad Dash Society

When you go out, look at the people around you. Don't they look like they're in a hurry to get somewhere? When you ask your friends out for a gathering, do you often get, "Sorry, I've got an appointment, or I've a meeting on that day"? Many people are chronically busy nowadays. They all have the compulsion to be successful as fast as possible. And to achieve that, they figure they have to compress five years of work into one, by moving five times faster! So they rush – developing a hard-nosed edge, sacrificing personal time and relationships, to get as much done as they can. But despite their earnest and wholehearted attempt to be successful, they often waste their effort because they lose their sense of direction – focusing on the trees, but failing to notice the forest – they end up running in circles. If you don't occasionally stop running and look up at the stars, how will you know which way is North? (Don't tell me you have a compass.) In real terms, this means you have to set some time everyday to stop, and reflect.

· What do I value in life?
· What does success mean to me?
· Has what I've done today brought me closer to my life's goal?
· How do I get from where I am, to where I want to be?

Yes, these questions require you to think deep; do some soul-searching. But when you have the answers, your mind will be clear. It's like driving a car with a clean windscreen... you can see where you're going! I suggest you clean your windscreen every night by taking time to reflect. That way, your VISION will be as sharp as can be. Everyone needs a Vision – that vivid mental image of what you'd like to Be, Do, and Have in life. Without it, we can't see which way we're headed. And the only way to develop it is to pause, reflect, think deep, and search your soul.

*The Love of Having*

Have you heard of Retail Therapy? Women love it. It's the idea that you can go shopping, buy something you like, and it will make you feel good about yourself. In the Be-Do-Have model, buying stuff is obviously in the HAVING stage. People subconsciously feel that having more stuff, will make them become who they want to be (Have>>Be). But the sad part is, only the reverse is true. Being who you want to be, will lead you to having what such a person has (Be>>Do>>Have).

Many people are using the Retail Therapy model to feel successful. They scamper to earn as much money as they can, then they splurge it on a lavish lifestyle – fast car, high-class dining, luxurious apartment, hot nightspots, and exotic traveling. All these luxuries and status symbols are suppose to help them BE somebody... But unless they already know who they are on the inside, they often end up being nobody. Luxury rich, but cash poor. These people have spent all their money on the toys. They will never get rich because they have none left over to invest. We all know that you MUST use the money you accumulate to buy assets which produce residual income, if you are EVER going to achieve wealth and financial freedom.

As we rush through our day, making money and spending lavishly, in a race to be successful, perhaps we can realize that all it takes... is one diagnosis of a critical illness, one lawsuit that bankrupts you, or the death of a loved one, to shift your values in life. Suddenly the stuff you have isn't important anymore... You'd gladly give it all away to get back your health, to shelter your family, or to share more time with your loved one.

All a dying man wants is to be well again. All a homeless man wants is good food and a warm place to sleep at night. And all a grieving man wants, is to have spent more time with his loved ones. Don't let this happen to you. Slow down, pause, and reflect. Figure out what's important to you in life. Then spend more time doing what's important, rather than following the masses – being busy everyday; chasing an imaginary shopping list of what it takes to be successful. Remember... better to walk slowly in the right direction, than to dash madly all over the place.

About The Author
Lance Ong is a Licensed Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Master Practitioner of Hypnotherapy and Timeline Therapy. He does life coaching to help clients gain clarity of purpose, while removing mental blocks to success. Learn Lance's philosophy for better living at his Internet Blog Site – "Wisdom to Create a Beautiful World" – www.lancism.com
truth@lancism.com