Personal Growth - Failure Consciousness Versus Success Consciousness

After hearing a number of recommendations for the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, I downloaded a copy to listen to in the car. One of the first things the book says is to take it one chapter at a time, really absorb each one and integrate the ideas slowly, making them your own. Having to spend the next 2 hours in the car I initially scoffed at listening to just one chapter. The first profound statement hit me as the book unfolded in the first chapter. It said 'the goal of this book is to help you move from a failure consciousness to a success consciousness'. I did indeed stop the book after the first chapter and give it some thought, which quickly made me realize how much of my life I have spent with a failure consciousness.

A little over a month ago, I attended a seminar through work called 'PowerCamp'. PowerCamp is a program that helps people to find their own voice, their own power within, to strengthen their own lives in the workplace and at home. Before going to the seminar, I had put some ideas in place for what I needed to work on. These were primarily around overcoming fears - not only fears that kept me from moving forward in many areas of my life, but I also what I called my 'fear of discovery' - that someone would uncover at some point that I had no idea what I was doing. I needed to overcome the thoughts that what I accomplished on a day to day basis was not worthy of recognition.

During the seminar while discussing with one of the coaches what I was hoping to accomplish with my experience at PowerCamp, she stopped me in the middle to make a point. I had been talking about how I had swum competitively most of my young life, from 5 years old to 18 years old in various swim clubs as well as in high school. She very astutely pointed out that had been wired in my formative years to measure my success by swim times, placement in races, and the opinions of coaches and parents always telling me to work harder - good was not good enough. Wired so much for so many years that I still look for similar validation today. However there are no times or race placements to validate what I do with my life outside of swimming. I realized that I viewed so many things I did as sub-par or failures, because I was trying to measure against something that did not exist anymore. This revelation was the beginning of freeing those thoughts of failure and underachievement.

Now looking back on life, I see so many more successes than failures. It has taken time to turn these views around and it is a daily process. Add the profound statement this morning of failure consciousness and success consciousness, I am also seeing my successes so much clearer. When I graduated high school in 1980, I chose not to go to college. I went to work in a few odd jobs, and ultimate got a great entry level job in computers that over the next 25 years enabled me to build a very successful career in the Information Technology industry. Throughout that career, I always felt less competent and less talented than those that had college degrees, yet I knew I was running circles around most of them at work.

That thought of failing to acquire a college degree kept me minimizing the success in my career for over 25 years. Now looking back, I see nothing but success. The fact that I was able to, on a C-average high school education, establish a long and well respected career in the computer industry, manage and lead large teams of people, and hold over 5 completely different and challenging positions, shows me that I have had huge success - and in no way was it a failure. The lesson was a long time coming, but now that it is positive instead of negative, I am embracing the feeling of that success.

About 15 years ago, I made a significant career change. I moved from being an independent computer programmer to being an instructor for a big time software company. When I decided to make such a big leap, I knew it was life changing and I had the confidence that I could make the change. But because of the insecurities around my missing degree, fear of failing motivated me for years to work hard and be very successful at the company. If I had gone into such a big career change with a success consciousness instead of failure consciousness, I may have had even more success. No regrets, but the profound statement of today has made me realize that having a success consciousness will only bring that success to you in greater amounts, because you believe you will be successful and that failure is not an option - or even a word that should enter your mind.

I now embark on another new challenge, altering my career path by becoming an entrepreneur and starting my own business. Instead of going in, hoping that I do not fail, I have gone in knowing that I will be successful. I feel it, sense it, and own the feeling of success and it is mine for the taking. Take it upon yourself to ask - do you operate under a failure consciousness or a success consciousness, and what do you need to do to move to the success side of that question?

Scott Ewart is a worker in corporate America and an entrepreneur. To read more on this subject and others, visit http://MeetScottEwart.com or http://ThinkLikeaRichPerson.com.

Be Body Conscious Or Suffer Personal & Professional Consequences

Wouldn't your think that since we spend our entire lives doing everything we do -- from thinking, tasting and hearing, to smelling, feeling and interacting -- that we'd be more aware of what allows us to do all these things? And since 90% of our communication is non-verbal, wouldn't it make sense to be more conscious of, yes, our bodies?

Our bodies provide us the capacity to sense what is tasty, silky, sonorous, nurturing, dangerous and inspiring. Yet those of us who have been raised in the western world have come to worship, to hyper-focus on our intellects as the way to live effective and full lives.

In contrast, our bodies (and emotions) are given minor roles or omitted completely from life's lexicon because focusing on them is considered 'soft', inferior or even weird. Yet we suffer personally and professionally by abbreviating the full extent of who we are.

By plowing ahead despite an unhealthily raised or lowered heartbeat, painful joints, head or stomach aches, we risk messages that something(s) is/are not right in our lives, not only physically, but perhaps also mentally or emotionally.
By speeding to work without noticing the emergent signs of Spring, we eclipse the amazing wonders and gifts that life is presenting to us - for free.
By ignoring a client's non-verbal cues, we miss the opportunity to make adjustments to our offer in order to a seal a deal.
By being oblivious to a friend or colleague's slumped posture and barely audible "I'm fine" in response to the often perfunctory "How are you," we risk not only inhibiting a relationship, but diminishing our credibility as a sincere person.

While analyzing and intellectualizing certainly have their rightful place, when we live primarily in and from our heads, we minimize not only our own lives, but quite possibly the lives of others and our connections with them.

How can we engage all of who we are so that we can live effective, full lives? Awareness is key.

I'd like to propose a practice for you to commit to over the next four weeks. It is not only simple, but it will give you an opportunity to decide if paying attention to your body does in fact enrich your life, personally, professionally, relationally and with the world as a whole. If it does, which I believe it will, there are innumerable ways to become more body conscious and to make appropriate adjustments that you deem necessary to maximize your engagement in and with life.

SETTING THE STAGE: Once each day for five minutes, assume you cannot speak. The only messages you can receive about yourself, others and the world around you are non-verbal.
SELF: Begin by focusing inside yourself. How fast/slow, shallow/deep is your breath? Now scan your muscles and joints, from the top of your head to your toes. Are they tense, achy, relaxed? What might these indicators be trying to tell you about your state being? What happens emotionally or mentally if you make a physical adjustment?
OTHERS: Observe others' body movements and facial gestures. Take in the energy they emit. Are they attracting or repelling to you? What are their bodies telling you about them and about you?
WORLD: What sounds do you hear? How about colors, textures, shapes of things around you, both natural and man-made? Scents?
REFLECT: Take it all in. What happens to and for you when you do?

Dana E. Whitaker is president of Opening Eyes, LLC, a business committed to helping individuals reach their personal and professional goals. As a coach, Dana helps her clients become more self-aware so that in expanding who they are, they may expand both what they want to, and believe they can do including: following a passion from start to finish, successfully navigating life and career transitions, creating healthy boundaries, developing effective communication strategies and satisfactorily managing work/life commitments. Dana offers individual and group coaching. She graduated from Newfield Network, an International Coach Federation (ICF) certified coaching program.

Additionally, as an author, Dana's stories and photographs in her book, Transforming Lives $40 at a Time, Women + Microfinance: Upending the Status Quo, bring readers face-to-face and heart-to heart with the dreams, fears, and successes of some of the world's poorest women from five continents who, having harnessed their profound courage and resourcefulness, are using microfinance to transform both their lives and those of their families - inside and out. Dana speaks at businesses, universities, churches, schools, bookstores, women's and philanthropy groups - sharing these women's inspiring stories, and her own passion-to-publish-to-coaching transformation. To learn more about Dana and Opening Eyes, LLC, please visit: http://www.openingeyes.net

Conscious Decisions: Your Personal Development Journey Awaits

The purpose of Wealth Masters International (WMI) is to help you grow as a conscious human being. If we want to see the world the way it really is we need to delve whole-heartedly into three main areas; health, wealth and wisdom. Everyday we make conscious decisions and personal development should be at the top of everyone's list. Did anyone ever bother to ask you if you want a life of prosperity or a life of poverty? No one should care more about your career, about your family, about your health, about your money, and about your future than you! Those that succeed will be those who take control of their destiny.

I am always looking for positive changes in my life. Perhaps you find yourself in the same position. By making the decision to invest in myself it opened countless ongoing opportunities. The benefits are endless as I was guided to discover and accept my life's purpose; it's the inspiration that helped me to feel more motivated, energized, and passionate. The real life ongoing education helped me shed disempowering relationships and build a network of loving support. What is truly amazing is that WMI teaches you how to achieve stable financial abundance doing what you love; and encouraging you to make a genuine contribution to humanity. I love being able to tell people I can experience the kind of life that deep down, I always knew I was meant to live. How many of us can actually say that?

When I made the decision to change the quality of my life I was suddenly surrounded by the teachers and information I needed to become a top producer and make a change in every area of my life! I came to the realization that I am not here to struggle and suffer. I'm here to express and share my creative gifts, to give and receive love, and to be happy. It will take time, but WMI can certainly help you get there, and the vast majority of resources found here are something that no book will ever teach you.

Are you ready to make conscious decisions in your personal development journey and courageously follow through? What this means is having the maturity to take 100% responsibility for your health, your career, your finances, your relationships, your emotions, your habits, and your spiritual beliefs. WMI's "The 1% Solution" was created for everyone because it encourages you to commit to daily 1% improvements in Wealth, Health and Wisdom for the duration of the 100-day study program. Are you ready to embark on an amazing transformation? Anyone can create any life that they want - and so can you!

All it requires is taking a deep look at yourself, consciously deciding what kind of person you truly are on the inside, and then getting your external reality to be equal with your inner reality. What program is out there that has the goal in mind to help you achieve outstanding effectiveness while maintaining internal balance, where your thoughts, feelings, actions, and skills are all working together to create the life you truly desire?

Personal development is hard work. It requires time, consistency, and patience. I'm interested in real, lasting change, and I'm serious about personal growth and willing to commit to it on an ongoing basis.

When you live more consciously, you find the courage to face the areas that you have been unable to confront in certain parts of your life. You'll be able to solve deep problems that you've not yet been able to look at. Practical ideas help you make important changes in your life. Who wouldn't want to can get their life on track and start living up to their potential?

I am on a continuous path of practical, positive growth. The MPower & M1 Educational series provide you with tremendous assistance to assist you on your journey. You can't truly accept responsibility unless you truly act on it.

The time tested secrets you'll learn with this program will change your life for the better, but only if you're willing to let go of excuses that will eliminate your success. If you make an honest effort to apply them you will give 1% each day you will be living life at a very different level, 100 days from now.

I'm amazed when I look back in the months and days and saw the abundance that I have now attracted into my life.

I took the step to invest in myself to making a commitment to this program. The possibilities are limitless. Change is a door that can only be opened from the inside. The keys and wisdom await you. What happens next is up to you!!! What are you waiting for? Wealth Masters International.

Kathy Batz
http://www.globalinternetsuccess.com
kathy@globalinternetsuccess.com

Consciously Live Your Personal Mission

Is what I say I want really important to me? Is it worth it to me to create what I say I want? The situations of your life, whether in relationships, work, or self, are a reflection of the experience of life that you consciously or unconsciously choose.

Your Mission Statement is your guide, to help you consciously choose the kind of life that you want. The next step for you is to apply your Mission Statement to a Vision that you want to create. Conscious application of your Mission Statement will help you become much more "attractive": the ability to bring into your reach all of the people, money, resources and opportunities you need to create the future you want. Here are ten suggestions about how to use your Mission Statement to create a successful, effortless and happy experience of life.

1. Reframe your Mission in form of a question

A Mission Statement that works applies to every aspect of your life. Learn to consciously ask yourself "How can I live my Mission in this moment?". As you get more comfortable with your "Mission Question" (through frequent use), it becomes a powerful tool to give you the answers you need to get unstuck, or reenergized at whatever you do. Say your Mission Question to yourself when you get up in the morning ("How will I live my Mission today?"). Say it when you go to bed ("How did I live my Mission today?"). Say it whenever you get bored, unmotivated, annoyed, surprised, or successful!

2. Keep your mission at top of mind.

Your Mission Statement is a tool to help you live at a more conscious level. One tool some people use is to set your wristwatch to beep every hour on the hour. When it beeps, stop whatever you are doing, take a full deep breath (inhale AND exhale), then say your Mission Statement to yourself. This "Mission Break" will do wonders to reenergize you. To accelerate whatever you are doing, take more frequent Mission Breaks... and at the limit, you will always repeating your Mission to yourself, to the point that it will push out any negative or doubtful thoughts.

3. Create the experience of your Mission with every person you meet.

As you live your Mission, find ways to inject the "experience" of it in every conversation and interaction with others. This does not have to be overt, or artificial... by simply keeping your Mission at top of mind, and asking your Mission Question whenever you hesitate, get stuck or are unsure, you will learn to naturally let your personal gift come forth. After a while, this will become automatic. When it does, you will be amazed at how easy it is to quickly connect and build trust with others, even people you have never met before!

4. Create time to experience your Mission with yourself, alone.

Take time off, preferably on a daily or weekly basis, to be alone with yourself. During these solo times, consciously experience your Mission with yourself. Repeat your Mission Statement as a mantra as you do a solo activity, especially in nature, or as you meditate or pray. In my experience, I often get powerful insights and solutions to issues in my life when I repeat my Mission Statement while doing a physical activity in nature (a mountain hike, a long run, or a swim). Experiencing your Mission while solo will also help you tap into your inspiration and your spiritual connection.

5. Transform your Mission Statement into your "Personal Brand"

Share your Mission with others by transforming it into your Personal Brand. Share your Mission Statement with others. Make your Mission the mission of your business, job or livelihood. Let it become your theme. People "buy" whatever you are offering, not because of what it is you are offering, but rather because they trust you... because you are projecting yourself honestly, congruently and transparently.

6. Look at your life experiences through the lens of your Mission.

Interpret everything that happens in your life, or that catches your attention, through the lens of your Mission. Ask yourself "How does this fit with my Mission?" Your Mission is a "decoder ring" that can help you make sense of what is happening around you. Conscious use of your Mission will make clear patterns, trends and opportunities that would otherwise appear as random, unconnected events. Instead of just being "lucky", you will quickly be able to accomplish miracles... because that's what you were always destined to create!

7. Use your Mission as the final decision criteria

Every decision in your life is a choice between regret and happiness. As you learn to use your Mission as your final criteria for all your decisions, you will naturally find more happiness in life. Regret comes from your unconscious longing to satisfy your Mission... if what you're doing now is not allowing you to experience your Mission, you have two choices: reframe what you're doing to be more in alignment with your Mission, or choose to stop right there. The more you use your Mission to make choices that are right for you, the more you will find that real success is effortless,because you are doing what comes naturally, and you don't have to force it!. You will be able to avoid regretful situations, and turn every decision into happiness.

8. Maximize your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health determine your capacity to fully live your Mission. The more health you experience in all aspects of your life, the more you are able to live your Mission. Make your health your priority, and you will find that life take a lot less effort.

9. Arrange your environment so it promotes your Mission

Everything in your environment should reinforce your Mission in life. Block out everything that causes you to doubt your Mission, especially the media (including television and news). Surround yourself with quotes, sayings, reminders of your Mission. Collect reminders of your successes, your essence, your personal brand.

10. Use your Mission Statement as a launch point for deeper exploration.

Mission work is a never-ending journey, where each new realization adds to your happy and successful fulfillment of life. The Mission Statement process you have just gone through is just the start of this process. Use the insights that you have gained to continue on your path...there are many books, courses and experiences you can use to propel you on your path. Take the time to explore your Mission Statement with your local spiritual leaders (pastor, priest, rabbi). True mastery of life comes with making exploration of your Mission job number one. Use every experience, big or small, as an opportunity to apply your Mission, and you will discover true happiness and success in every moment.

Davender Gupta is a business leadership coach and Certified "Book Yourself Solid" Coach whose mission is to guide passion-driven solopreneurs, professionals and people with Big Ideas to accelerate their Vision from Passion to Profit. Join the discussion on his blog frompassiontoprofit.com and his main site coachdavender.com He welcomes your questions by e-mail at coach@davender.com or by phone, toll-free, at 1-888-788-8844.