FOCUS - Part 2

Following on from yesterday's video with Tony Robbins, I am trying to put into practice the art of focus in my own life.

 Image - etienoetuk.com

We all have so many things going on in our lives that often it is easy to get completely sidetracked or bogged down by the sheer amount of things we have to do.

At the moment I am looking at ways in which I can move forward from my current teaching position.

How can I be properly remunerated for my skills and experience? 

How can I use those skills and experiences to help others, but at the same time bring a better balance to my own life and that of my family?

It is not easy.

There are so many possible options.

I can continue to jump around from one idea or opportunity to another.  I have been guilty of that for some time.  I know that there is something else there for me, but had not really found it until now.

However after a great deal of thought and reflection, of study and undertaking courses, I feel that I am much closer now to where I want to be going.

I still have a lot to learn and do.  So the most important thing to do is to focus on what is in front of me and to follow the instructions of those who have been along the road before me.

Focus is not easy.  There are so many distractions.  Yet it is the best way to move forward into the future we want to have.

As I move along this journey, I look forward to sharing my resources and aha moments, my successes and my failures with you.

The Best Motivational Videos 2016 ► FOCUS ◄ This Will Change Your Life

Tony Robbins has had an effect upon a huge number of people - from huge life-changing to small 'aha' moments.

In this 7-minute video Tony talks about focus and the six human needs - in his own inimitable style!

 "How do you make sure what you do really works?

Model someone who is already successful."

There are so many examples out there that we have to decide which one suits us individually.

Yet there are also universal truths:

" Why reinvent the wheel?  Success leaves clues."

So if we are going to focus on things in our lives we need to make sure that they lead to positive decisions because "decisions shape destiny."

How would your life have changed if you had made different decisions?  What changes can we make now by having a different focus?

Over the past 2 or 3 years my focus has been changing.  That change has begun speeding up more recently and I know that more major changes are happening in my own life.

That is why I shall be modelling someone who is already successful.

What about you?

Self-love and self-acceptance

Time for Day 3 of Luminita's Happiness Challenge and an issue which can happen for any of us - self-love and self-acceptance.

Image: self-central.com

REMINDER: Today’s happiness theme is “self-love and self-acceptance.”

 It is so easy to forget to love and accept ourselves.

So many young people today struggle with issues.  I believe this is even more the case than it was when I was a teenager. 

Social media and constant celebrity gossip doesn't help our young people to develop into the people they need to become.

It is also so easy as an adult to say something which can easily affect a young person's self-esteem.

Perhaps I unwittingly did that today.  I need to practice self-acceptance with Luminita's exercise.

I am already finding that these short focus sessions are making me think more about my own life and what I am doing each day.

It's not too late to join in!  Let me know if you do.

5 Ways to Stay on Track With Your Creative Goals

 "Do not underestimate the thrill of trying." ~ Julia Cameron

A few days ago, I got an idea for a book. I sat down at the computer and an outline flew out of me. It felt like this was the book I was born to write. In the process of writing the outline I entered that "flow state" where I felt totally in the creative zone. It was great.

However later that evening, the voices of doubt started to creep in: "Who's going to read this book?" "Who are YOU to write a book?" "How could you ever get this thing published?" "You're not even a good writer... " etc. So I stopped writing. A week went by and I did no work on my book. I abandoned this project that had given me a few hours of total joy and excitement. I believed the voices that said I wasn't good enough.

And then I had a realization: "Just write the damn book and worry about who's going to read it later. Write the book because right now your soul wants to create this book. Write it for YOU right now and trust that when the time is right this book will find it's audience... and if its audience is just you, that's okay."

Have you ever found yourself giving up on a goal that earlier had given you lots of joy?

Here are some tools for getting back on track:

• Don't believe everything you think. Most negative thoughts are fear-based and invented by our subconscious mind to protect ourselves from perceived danger. Your brain isn't trying to sabotage you; it's trying to protect you. However, in most creative endeavors, you don't need you brain's protection. Shine a light on the negative voice inside of you that is trying to stop you from creating. Thank this voice and show gratitude for its efforts in trying to protect you. Also let it know that it's not going to stop you from pursuing your goal and then carry on creating!

• Resolve to work on your goal every day. I've committed to working on my book for 20 minutes every day. Now this might not seem like a lot of time, but 20 minutes a day adds up to 10 hours a month. Committing to work on something every day actually increases your odds of working on it for longer. Often I'll do my 20 minutes in the morning and then later find myself inspired to go back to work on a section of the book. I'm getting new ideas because the book is constantly on my mind and so my brain is working on it even when I'm not actively "working on it."

• Have an accountability partner. Oftentimes setting goals on our own isn't enough to keep us on track. It can be helpful to buddy up with a friend who is working on a similar goal. You can connect weekly in person or via Skype and make sure that you're both staying on track with your goals. Break your goals down into manageable weekly "chunks" and then check in with your partner to see if you've both reached the week's goal.

• Reward yourself. This one works really well for me and I've used it throughout my life. (It's how I used to get myself to go to auditions.) Your reward for making progress towards your goal can be anything you want it to be (although I do encourage green juice over ice cream). I urge you to give yourself small rewards as you make positive steps toward your goal, rather than one large reward when you've succeeded - this way you're most likely to stay motivated.

• Let go of perfection. I'm aware that my book is not ready to be published in its current state. I'm writing from the heart first and then will go back and edit and polish, etc. Writing a book takes a lot of time, a lot of work and a lot of endurance. I'm giving myself permission at this stage for the book to be rough, for it to be "bad." I'm in this for the long haul. I'm allowing myself to be in the process of writing a book, without needing my book to be a product.

I hope you found these suggestions helpful. They are certainly helping me stay on track with my goals. If you find yourself falling off the wagon with your creative goals, getting back on track is just a few actionable steps away. I'd love to hear how you stay on track with your creative endeavors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sarah_Koestner/2197268

You Can Change - Motivational Video Ft Secret Entourage

Fear is the green light not the red light.  

If you feel fear then you need to do it.

You are in control of what happens.

You can change.  

This week in my teaching I have had some quite difficult classes.

Some of the students have been rude and argumentative.  They have disrupted the lesson so much that they have prevented other students from learning.

The concepts that I have been teaching have not been particularly difficult, yet because of the disruption, it has been difficult to convey them properly, making sure that each student understands them.

At the end of the lesson I have felt discouraged, worn out and yes a little fearful about whether I can manage the behaviour enough to have a lesson where the students really learn.

Do I need to change the whole structure of the lesson, or just some of the elements?

Do I need need to change the way I teach and react less to the behaviour which some of the students probably design to upset me and cause disruption?

The answer is definitely 'yes' within certain parameters.

Am I afraid of that?

Again the answer is 'yes'.  

It means more work and more trial and error with this particular group.  

It will demand more time and effort when I am planning my lessons.

I will need to continue my own professional development, researching, studying and putting into practice strategies and ideas to break the cycle of poor behaviour.

And the further fear?

That the demands of the education system and the inspection regimes are such that I am not supposed to get this wrong.  That each student should seemingly be on an ever upward learning cycle.  That it could affect my appraisal result, my ability to teach.

Yet I feel the fear and so I need to do it.

For the sake of my students and their learning.

For the sake of the education system.

But most of all for my own sake.  

For the knowledge that I have done the very best I can and that at some later stage, some of my students may have cause to thank me for the way in which I helped them through a difficult time.

Life is not easy.

Teaching is not easy.

Learning is not easy.

But we must all feel the fear and do it anyway.

I CAN change.

How to Make Your Day Meaningful

Time flies. Today will soon be yesterday! So make your today special - a remarkable and unforgettable one. Be happy and make fun! How you can make your 'today' a remarkable and thus, your everyday. Well, here are few ways to do so.

• Do something new. If you want to spice of your life then bringing variety is the best way to do so. There are millions of things which you can do or see million times but there are only few things which you will do for the first time or may be just once. So, this means that first time experience which you take only once leave a mark on your mind for the rest of your life. So, start doing something new from today onwards and convert this ordinary day into an extraordinary day.


• Entertainment with Real world experiences.
  What are your great memories? They are just few interesting experiences of your life. So, if you are the one who sits all day in your home working on laptop or watching TV then it is high time that you get out and have some fun in your life. Interactions with the world are itself quite an interesting experience. Enjoy the nature and appreciate the natural beauty. One should learn to enjoy little things in life and take pleasure in watching how life unfolds.


• Start working on something meaningful.
  Engage yourself with a project which holds a meaning in your life. Or you can even start up something which you always wanted to do but could never do it due to some or the other problem. Life is short; so you better start working on it, start the action today.


• Challenge your body and mind.
  Take up a new skill and learn it. One should be creative in life no matter how small that is. Push yourself to the farthest limits and enjoy the feeling you get after accomplishing the task.


• Stick to few things.
  It is not necessary that you need to do everything but whatever you do, give your best shot. Concentrate on few things but best should be given on them. Slow down a bit and pay close attention to the work you are doing in present. Don't' juggle up your life in forgettable tasks rather concentrate on something which really matters. You can even give up your whole day in it and engage yourself fully.


• Start saying "yes".
  One cannot plan everything in life, few things need to be spontaneous. So, stat saying yes to spontaneous opportunities that come your way. It's a great saying great opportunities knock your door when you least expect them. So be a little spontaneous and say "yes". Be positive.


• Finish your unfinished business.
  Every human has a lot of pending business on their list, you must be having too. So, make up a list of unfinished projects and start working on them one by one. Think it as the perfect day to finish what you once started.

Life is short. Everyone wants to be succeeded in the life. But what makes a person's life a success is still a big question. Many attributes are related to success that range from physical to mental counts, hard skills to soft skills, hard works, thought-process, dreams, reality, happiness, hardship and what not!

Factors that have an effect on and affect the success in life also vary. In a broader aspect, three things actually determine the ultimate SUCCESS of life:

• Health
• Skills
• Money

BE THE PILOT OF YOUR LIFE
 
Shohel Poraan

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9265230

What It Means To Be Present

Everywhere I turn it seems that people are talking about being present. In magazines, on social media and at yoga classes. I have been assured that being present is a key to happiness and I remember thinking that there must be more to it than that! I thought I understood what being present meant and I also thought that I was already being present in my life.

But after a day of rushing through life and juggling numerous tasks, I realised I was stressed. I was not being present with each task. So I started to practice the art of being present. I would meet up with my family and focus solely on them. I wasn't thinking about a task I needed to get done or where I needed to be next. I sat down with them, turned off the TV and we had a conversation. We asked each other questions, looked each other in the eye, smiled and laughed together. We were all in the room being present with each other and enjoying each others company. We were not distracted by the TV or where we needed to be next.

I started to try this elsewhere. When I was talking to my husband, I was only talking to him. I stopped reading emails or texting at the same time and instead, I listened to him with all of my attention.

I used it with strangers. At my local health food shop, instead of thinking about paying quickly and getting out of the shop onto my next errand, I actually had a conversation with the assistant.

I tried this same experiment over the phone. I was speaking to a call centre assistant and again, I was present. I focused on the task in front of me and put my efforts into the conversation. I wasn't reading another email at the same time.

It all sounds a little too simple doesn't it, but it genuinely works. It is so surprising what happens when you listen with intention and focus on one thing or person at a time. Juggling social media, emails and the internet is actually very stressful and you are not giving the person in front of you the respect they deserve. You also don't seem to save any time by rushing.

Rushing to send the next email or text and doing too many things at once isn't necessary. It is a good thing to slow down and relax. The jobs will still get done. By being present, we will be happier when we are doing our daily tasks and we will be able to enjoy the people in our lives at the same time.

Try it for yourself and see what happens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9309147

Focus On Your Journey - MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO

I have just watched this video at the end of a long day.  It lasts for less than 4 1/2 minutes and has some stunning footage from The Lion Whisperer  The video is worth watching, just for that.


However the narrative is also inspiring.  It asks who believes in you?

Are you trying to live someone else's life while ignoring your own life and path?

And you should understand this, that it was always going to be your family and your friends that would be the first ones to try and talk you out of your vision and your big idea.

Focus on your intentions and do your thing.

In personal development, we frequently have big dreams.  We know that often they will not be easy to achieve.

We give up.  I know that I have when a project is 95% complete and I look back somethimes with regret.


Yet I cannot do that any longer.

I have to focus on my journey and writing this blog is helping me to do just that.


Do you struggle to focus on your journey?  Do you need to be accountable to other people?


Do let me know what you think.

You Can Learn Anything

As my half term holiday comes to an end, I have spent today preparing lessons for my students. 

Whilst looking for suitable motivation for the bottom set students who make up most of my classes, I came across this video from the Khan Academy.  They provide free education (to anyone!). 

So if you feel like you missed out when you were at school, here is an ideal opportunity to catch up - your own personal development.

I love one of the lines from this video:

"Thankfully we're born to learn."

So as we get ready for a new week, students and teachers in the UK get ready for the second half of the Spring Term, here is an ideal opportunity to open our minds to what lies all around us - the opportunities to learn. 

Let's grasp them with both hands.  Now that really is 'Personal Development'!

Create Your Life - Motivational Video

 "Your life is a product of your decisions, not your conditions."

How often do we look at our own life and see what we can do to improve it?

Do we just complain about it without doing anything?

Watch this 3-minute video, and let me know what you think.

"Some people take disappointment and let it destroy them, other people take disappointment and let it drive them."

Where do I start?

There is so much information available to us on wide variety of topics which could be classified under the 'Personal Development' banner.  At times the amount is overwhelming.

I know that because I have become bogged down myself.  Sometimes I have found myself going from site to site, page to page and video to video.

I have seen so many courses, books, webinars and coaching offered at a variety of prices from free to several thousands of dollars.  I could spend every day immersed in all of this.

However, I have seen that some sites offer consistently excellent information in various forms, whilst some leave a great deal to be desired.

My aim with this blog is to help you to find the useful sites and information.

If I have read the ebooks, listened to the webinars, watched the videos and bought the courses, I will let you know honestly what I think about them. 

They will be my own views and I dare say that there will be some people who disagree with me.  That's fine - we are all different and are looking for what works for us as individuals.

By all means agree or disagree with my comments and recommendations, but please do so in a spirit of understanding with a recognition of our uniqueness.

Not everything I discuss or link to will be right for everyone else, but at least it starts us on or journey.  After all

With that in mind a resource I found today was very accurate for me and it would definitely be worth your while spending a few minutes to complete this quiz.

Many people have heard of the Law of Attraction and have tried to make it work for them.  So many people have found that it hasn't worked as they expected, become disillusioned and give up.

This short quiz which is based on work with over 2 million people worldwide will give you results in 60 seconds which you can keep in pdf form and go back to later.  It does lead into a rather lengthy video (although you can just read the copy too) for a product I have not tested.

My results were accurate.  Let me know if yours are too.  I look forward to hearing from you!

A Journey in Personal Development

My journey in personal development has lasted for several years already.

It has taken me through highs and lows, wrong turns and straight paths.  It continues ahead of me through each day and in all circumstances.

As a teacher, I am used to preparing information into manageable chunks.  I am continually developing my own professional knowledge and skills.

Yet amongst the busyness of our everyday lives it is far too easy to miss out on learning for ourselves, on developing our own thoughts, experiences and mindset.

A search engine returns about 285 million results for the term 'personal development'!  Where on earth do we start?

My journey so far has taken me through areas such as traditional business professional development, religion and science.  Reading and studying; learning new skills for the world we live in.

Probably one of the most important sources of help has been learning from some of those who have spent a great deal of time studying this huge subject.  People such as John Assaraf at Neurogym, Vishen Lahkiani at Mindvalley, Dr Joe Vitale and Tony Robbins.

Their output is enormous and sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start.

Which course should I follow?  Is it right for me?  Is it the right time?  Is it worth spending my money?

I am writing this blog from my own experience.  I will post articles and videos that I find helpful to me and, I hope, to you as well.

I know that everyone is different and some content may not be right for you - please just scroll by if that is the case.

In particular, I look forward to interacting with other people on the same journey, wherever you are along your own path.

So please introduce yourself below and let me know what you think. I am looking forward to our journey together.

MINDSHIFT - A Motivational Video

Does real Personal Development begin with a mindshift?  Let me know what you think.



This is my journey towards becoming the person I want to be, learning from the masters of personal development and motivation.



It will follow the ups and downs of life and knowledge gained from those who have studied and lived this journey before me.



Let me know if you are joining me on this journey and we will walk together.



I would love to read your comments below.