Great Expectations

As I was finishing up my previous post about setting goals and achieving milestones, one thought came to me which I felt merits an entire post for the message to be delivered correctly.  How many times do we set goals that are too easily achieved, which by reaching those set milestones we aren't even motivated because it was simply too easy of a task?  This happens a lot because we have fear of not being able to accomplish greater things.

The real tragedy is that the only thing holding us back from doing greater tasks is the little tiny insignificant inner voice that says, "You're not good enough," or "You could never do that," or "What will everyone think of you," etc, etc.  It's that one nasty jerk that sits on one side of your shoulders that usually overpowers the awesome coach on the other side of your shoulders and moves you in the direction of playing it "safe" by staying small.

Now, goals should be realistic.  If you haven't been off your couch in years than it should be safe to say that you probably won't be running a marathon in less than 3 hours by the end of the week.  But don't set a small goal of being able to walk around the block once without stopping by the end of the year.  See the difference?

One of my mentors explained to me that goals should be stretchingly realistic.  They need to be believable enough for you that you can actually visualize yourself in the attainment of your goal, yet just far enough out of reach that you will truly have to grow and learn and put yourself just on the outside of your comfort zone to accomplish it.  Only with those kind of stretches will we be able to turn into the kind of people we want to be.  Only then can we truly begin to see the potential that really lies deep within us.

So dream, but dream big.  Make your goals important enough to you that you are willing to stretch and learn and grow.  Make them sit at a level of life that you have yet to touch and by moving in that direction you know you will become closer to the image of the self that is truly who you are.

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Accomplishing Goals

Lot's of focus on goals lately!  That which you focus upon expands, and I want expansion to happen in my life abundantley.  So one good place to begin was my bucket list.  I've noticed it was getting a bit neglected and decided to tackle one of the items on that list.  I've chosen to set the goal to learn how to do a "split" again.  Of course I'm an over-achiever and psycho, so it's not going to be enough for me to just to a split in one direction.   Oh no no, I want to hit the goal of being able to do a split with either leg in front and both my legs to the side.  This will be a painful and lengthy process, as it has been at least 15 years since I've been able to do one!

Why is this even relevant to anything in my life?  Will doing a split enable me to be better at closing business deals?  Will it give me the ability to enhance my writing skills?  Will a silly split give me the confidence to become a better leader and servant?  The answer to all these questions and any relevant questions is a resounding YES!  How is that so, you ask?  Here's the answer:

Life is about accomplishments.  It's about not staying stagnant.  You start small and believable.  You build up your faith muscles (you know, the ones that have been in hybernation for the last hundred years?) and become a giant of mental strength.  One goal is as important as any other goal.  So this goal in and of itself isn't the key.  The key is that I have a goal and I am working toward accomplishing it.  I will post a picture of myself doing these splits once I am able to perform this olympic triumph to measure my accomplishment.

What goals are you going to begin tackling from your bucket list?  Don't have a list, yet?  Get crackin' and make that happen asap.  Then, once you have items written out don't just stuff the list in the bottom sock drawer, create those things in your life so that you can live that kind of reality.  Become a delibrate creator and move in the direction of your dreams.

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Ten Reasons to Set Goals

Many people read about setting goals and are intrigued by the concept, however, they never get around to actually sitting down and thinking a few up to write down.  It is of critical importance that we set goals in our lives, and here are ten reasons why:

1.  YOU NOW KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING
Seems obvious, but without a destination you will simply run around in circles and end up nowhere, which is the same place from which we start.

2.  YOU GET TO DREAM
When you place yourself in a position to actually sit down and contemplate upon the things and events you want in your life, you become giddy with excitement and you look forward to your experiences in life.  The simple exercise of writing down goals gives you permission to let your inner child out and dream again.

3.  YOU WILL BUILD AN INTERNAL MOTIVATOR
For the times you just "don't feel like it" you will get an inner boost of energy if you have goals toward which you are actively working.

4.  YOU WILL BE STRONG AGAINST THE NAY-SAYERS
The people that tell you that you are crazy for dreaming so big do so only because they have no goals of their own.  When you know what you want and hold on to that firmly, it won't matter what others say about you anymore.

5.  YOU WILL FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF
How can you stop your confidence from increasing if you have such a strong reason to persist in life?

6.  YOU WILL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND YOUR TRUE PURPOSE
By setting aside your goal setting times, you will begin to learn about who you really are and all the things of which you are capable.  You will begin to be amazed at yourself and will come to love yourself more.  Only by doing that can you reach out and help the world.

7.  YOU WILL CLIMB TO HIGHER LEVELS OF LIFE
Each goal you set will motivate you to continually pursue all that is good in your life as you see yourself hitting milestones for each event.  As you hit a small goal here and there, after time you will look back and be amazed at all you accomplished cumulatively.

8.  YOU WILL DEVELOP YOUR "GOOD HABBITS" MUSCLES
As you learn to set goals on a regular basis, it will instill in you the desire to do other great things (such as exercise, read, serve, etc.)  With each goal setting session you increase your muscles of discipline, desire, and determination.

9.  YOU WILL LOVE LIFE
Being constantly in the pursuit of all that is good is what makes us as humans tick.  Having goals will keep you moving rather than staying stagnant.  Even if you just compete with yourself in getting better and growing your skills and abilities, you will enjoy more energy and vitality from the act of having goals and living by them.

10.  YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO STAND FOR
The familiar saying of "Stand for something or you'll fall for anything" rings more true today than ever.  By having goals you will have a crusade.  No matter where the wind is blowing you will stand firm on your path because you know the destination.  Having goals gives you a purpose and you now have something to stand firmly behind.

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Your Bucket List

Have you created your personal life's bucket list, yet?  It's not as easy as it sounds, but definitely worth the effort.  It took some thinking but I finally created my bucket list a few months ago.  I thought as soon as I put those words down on paper I could go to work happily chopping away at the the tasks on that list as if it were a lengthy to do list for a Sunday afternoon.  Boy, was I wrong!

I have been studying that list and am realizing that it is slow going.  There are things I've crossed off (3 out of 100 to be exact) but there are many many items on that list that will require some planning and creativity to pull off.  Lots of world vacations and meeting famous people just to name a few.  But that's the purpose of a list like that.  To stretch yourself and do things you wouldn't normally be put in front of by just lounging around and watching re-runs.

One of the fun parts about a bucket list is that you really don't have to do the tasks in any certain order.  Just go after each item one by one until your life will become a habit of continual goal pursuit.  What an adventure life can be if we decide to mold our days rather than just be left prey to the conveniences of our surroundings.

There is a whole world to explore and only a few short years to do so.  My days are invested with thoughts on these goals and I can't help but wonder what wonderful opportunities can come my way because I live my life with a purpose.  So much to do, but there is plenty of time if we take action now and not wait for more convenient moments (Ha!).  Goals are great, especially when you mean them!

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Creating a Mission Statement

Having a personal mission statement has been on my list of things to do since for-eva ago!  I have always thought the concept of such a thing was valuable, since having direction and purpose always yields much more lasting and meaningful results.  I have come up with several demos and have thought them to be pretty good, however, never truly felt connected to any of them.

Last week I heard the quote: "A leader makes decisions quickly but changes her mind slowly."  This statement impacted me in regards to developing my mission statement.  I figure it is better to begin somewhere with one and then as I progress through my life I can evaluate how it is performing for me. 

What does a personal mission statement have to have in it in order to serve its purpose effectively?  Well, the deepest requirment I feel is the ability to make you think about the moves you make in life.  If you have a meaningful mission statement for your own life you will always be able to move from where you are to where you want to go because of the phrased you coined to lead your life.

Also, I think it is perfectly okay to borrow another mission statement.  If you hear a statement that rings very true for you then go ahead and use it as your own.  The purpose is that now you have a MISSION!  That you are not just a casualty walking aimlessly through this precious gift of life, but you have direction and purpose. 

Finally, a mission statement shouldn't be more than one or two sentences in length.  If you walk into some businesses you would see that they completely disagree with that.  You'll see some mission statements that are paragraph lengths long and very tediously padded with huge words.  Mission statements need to motivate you toward them, not bore you by sentence number forty four.

So what is my mission statement?  Drum roll please....

"To inspire people to move in the direction of their dreams by constantly moving in the direction of my dreams."

Is it a perfect final draft?  Most likely not.  However, instead of just continuously aiming for who knows what, now I can begin in a solid direction.  I want to inspire people to lead fulfilling lives and help them to feel free and to love life.  The best way I know to do that is by being an example of doing just that for myself.  Have you created a mission statement for your life?  Put one together today and live by it, remember you can always reevaluate and change it later, the important thing is to take action now.

To your dreams!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Holy of holies!  It is now TWO THOUSAND AND TEN!  I had to spell it out because my fingers are still a little slow in typing the 1-0 instead of the 0-9...craziness!  I for one am very excited about this new year!  It is a little strange how we place such a high emotion on a calendar day.  How all of a sudden we're enthusiastic about life just because it's now January 1st.  Poor December, it really gets the butt end of the deal.  I guess that's why Christmas is thrown in there...to make up for the timing!

As my hubby and I put together some goals for this year, one thing we came to realize is that this year is and only can be better than last.  Ever feel that way?  If for no other particular reason, then for the fact that we too have joined the throngs in excitement for this new-ness the new year brings us.  We're fired up about taking ownership to a new level.  Not just in business, but in life!  Ever hear the phrase Own or be Owned?  I believe it wholeheartedly and have committed to invest this coming year wisely.

Our theme for this year is.................

INTEGRITY

Yeppers.  Plain and simple.  I want to be the kind of person who is 100% reliable.  My word is my bond and I have to live and die by my commitments.  As I study successful people, one thing I see in common is the strength in their character.  More than anything I want to be that way.  This goal, above any other, seems the most daunting, so here we go.

What is your goal?  Whether or not you believe in the whole "resolution" thing is up to you, but when you focus on a direction, you're certain to get somewhere desirable.  When you focus on nothing...well, then who knows where you'll end up and what kind of a mess you'll look like when you get there.

Here's to a NEW YEAR...CHEERS TO 2010!

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Expect Opposition

My thoughts for this post originally started on some aspect of saving a few bucks that could ultimately lead to a huge amount in the future. That all changed when I rented Julie & Julia. If you are even a semi regular blogger you are probably familiar with Julie Powell and her success story.

So instead of writing about how you should bag your lunches and skip the daily trip to Mickey D's, I want to express my feeling on another subject that could totally squash any goal you may set for yourself.

Nay-Sayers!


You know them, but please whatever you do, never succumb to being one of them! You know, the people who tell you that the things for which you aspire are a waste of time and that you should give up on your goals and dreams. Just because you cannot fit into their box of what they consider to be reality, doesn't mean you need to shrink yourself in order to accomodate them.

In the movie both Julia Childs was ridiculed by cooking teachers she had when she started to learn how to cook and Julie Powell being told by her own mother that she was silly for even starting a new project in her life.

Think of how many times you've been told to forget about your hopes and aspirations. How many times have you been convinced to quit that which you love. (If you haven't had many such experience, then there's a hint to start dreaming bigger!) Now think of how many times you gave in because all that negativity made sense to you at that point.

For the love of all that is good NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU AGAIN! Never give up, especially because of someone's unwelcomed advice. You want to accomplish great things? Make sure everyone gets out of your way "cuz this time, We ain't backing down! Right???

"Brick walls are put up to see how bad you want it." -Randy Pausch

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2 Down 98 to Go!

Project Bucket List is officially underway! #94 and #95 have been crossed off. My writing career is officially in its beginnings and I have those two goals to thank for it. One day when I look back at my wild success I'll be able to see its origin.

Have you put together your bucket list lately? Stop with the excuse of not having enough time! Become a possibilitarian not a limitor! Set your sights high and then get high on the feeling of achievement!

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One Definition of Crazy

Here's something that was completely hazardous to my health and that I would never recommend to anyone, not even my worst enemies:

Committing to NaNoWriMo (Where you write a 50,000+ word novel in the month of November) and NaBloPoMo (Where you commit to posting on your blog each day of the month of November) all in the same month and year. Can I hear you say CRAZY???

Yes, it was crazy. Although the month doesn't officially end until tomorrow night, I am completely done with my first draft of my first Novel (Over 60,000 words) thanks to NaNoWriMo. And thanks to NaBloPoMo, I've developed a deeper commitment to my blog and what I want out of it.

Will I ever do the two again in the same month...ABSOLUTELY NOT:o) Just one at a time, because posting and coming up with a fictional world are two joyfully stressful things that each need their own space.

So, I'll keep you updated on the news of those developments in the days ahead. But it feels great to set a goal and hit it! Woohoo...

WHAT A RUSH!

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Size Matters

When it comes to your vision, it is always important to think big. It's amazing the limits we put on ourselves. Have a vision for your life and then double the size of your goal. If you feel you are unable to accomplish a goal, it's just because your dream wasn't big enough. Get childlike giddy for your dreams, and you will do whatever it takes to make it happen for you!

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The Greatest Game Ever Played...

Have you ever seen the movie called "The Greatest Game Ever Played"? It is a true story about a young golfer who won the US Open in 1913. Francis Oimet (We-Met) was an amateur and went up against some of the greatest players in history. His challenge didn't come only in the form of inexperience. He was also ridiculed by the golfing community, he had no one but his mother supporting him, and his father even asked him to leave home because he was pursuing this "silly" dream.

This is a Disney movie and completely suitable for all ages. I've seen it a couple of times and yesterday as I was watching it again, I felt completely awed by the perseverance of great people. I was taken by the fact that people who accomplish amazing things do so not because the weather is fair, or because it comes easy to them. They do these things out of the belief that it must be possible and that they are the ones meant to do them.

There's lots of feel good movies out there, and many of them are true stories. However, when you have a movie that keeps you interested the entire time and then right towards the end...BAM! It delivers one scene in particular that brings together the feeling of what it means to be a champion, then that, my friends, is a good movie. If you've seen this movie, I think you would know which scene I am talking about, if you haven't seen it yet you'll surely catch it when you view it!

FOURRRRRRRRRRRR!

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Gear Up for a Great Week

Here's a thought for you as you gear up for the coming week! Adopt a Do Whatever It Takes attitude. The harder a task seems, go for it. The scarier a new change feels, attack it. The more tired you feel, charge with passion.

This may be a new attitude for many of us, but if we make it a goal to experience that kind of a breakthrough even once this week, then we know we're on our way. Below are some ideas on what we can do that will propel us forward:

1. Make an extra business call per day this week

2. Open up a Roth IRA

3. Mail in an extra amount of money to your retirement or college fund this week

4. Put together your budget (FINALLY)

5. Go through your home and get rid of the clutter

6. Give an extra few dollars to your favorite charity this week

7. Instead of TV, attend a financial seminar or read a financial book

8. Sit down with your spouse to discuss 2010 goals as a family

9. Invest an extra 30 minutes with your kids and teach them the value of money

10. Go the extra mile in whatever line of work you do

Try any one of these suggestions or come up with one yourself. The more you stretch yourself, and the more you take away excuses from your life and instead do whatever it takes to win ~ the more positive results you will see in your life.

W.I.T.

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The Long Haul

Here's a brief post with a powerful message.

STAY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR GOALS FOR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TO ACCOMPLISH THEM!

Seems simple, but we've all done the opposite dozens of times. We set a goal. One we're totally fired up about. Then what happens a few months, weeks, or even a few days later? We usually loose enthusiasm for the goal and let it fall by the way side.

Loosing in life is a habit, and so is winning. If we continue to allow ourselves to quit on our own goals, we will always look toward the direction of easy scape goat answers. Let's take charge as a community of doers and set goals we actually accomplish, even if it takes longer than expected.

ONWARD!

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On your Mark, Get Set...

Sundays are great week prepping days. Get ready for your week. Don't just let another one blow by without any goals. Even if it's simple, do something different for your financial future this week.

Set a goal to save $20 on lunches this week and invest it instead.

Set a goal to work one day overtime so that you can donate that money to a worthy cause.

Set a goal to have a garage sale and make a few extra bucks to put into your kids college fund.

Do a little extra something this week and watch it go a long way. But it starts with setting a goal and figuring out a way to do it. Then as the week progresses, make sure you stay on track so you make it across the finish line SUCCESSFULLY!

GO!

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Where to Go Next?

Take it one step at a time. Ever hear that piece of advice? It stems from the famous quote,

"Each journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."

Though wise this quote may be, sometimes we're not too worried about the journey itself. Sometimes we're worried about where this journey is taking us. If you've been reading any of my previous posts, I think you'll see where this is going (no pun intended).


First of all, the worrying part needs to disappear. No need to worry. Even if you are unsure as to where you want to take your vision, just begin by doing something. ANYTHING. If you are moving, at least you will be getting somewhere. The truth is, when we become paralyzed by the unknown, years pass and we remain in the same spot. So who cares that you don't know where you want to go, yet...just MOVE!


Bob Proctor tells his own story of when he worked at the fire house as a young man. He read Napoleon Hill's "THINK AND GROW RICH" and learned that he must begin from where he is at that moment to act. Even if he feels unready or unsure. So, since Bob Proctor knew he wanted to be successful and entrepreneurial, he knew he must act. But act in what? What should be the course he needed to take?


Since he had no clear vision forming, yet of what he needed to do, he decided that "acting now" meant being productive in any given moment. He began to use his down time at the fire station cleaning the rooms and tidying the posts. From doing this stemmed his idea of starting a cleaning business and there began the venture of a man who we know today as one of the most successful free thinkers of our time.


Sure at the time cleaning the fire house didn't seem like much, but it was action. He didn't just read about the stuff that would one day form his goals into reality and sit there and smile and just think about "one day"...instead, he did something. Anything!


When I first started reading blogs, I knew I'd like to start one. I didn't know how to do it, I had no clue how to format a website, and I had no clue how I could get anyone to read what I wrote. But one day as I was browsing through some websites I came across a site where you can purchase a domain name. I had an idea for a name and I purchased it. That was the first step for me into taking action for writing a blog and being successful with it. It wasn't until months later that I found how to actually post my content and redirect my domain name to that content. However, had I not taken action and purchased my domain name, this blog would still be a figment of my imagination.

What do you have in your mind right now that is just waiting to burst into reality? What are you dreaming of becoming? There is so much greatness between your ears that if you truly comprehended that at this moment you would literally burst out of reality. My encouragement is that you begin from where you are to make something special happen. Even if you really don't know what you want to make happen, just begin by being active. Do something, ANYTHING, and the more your personality evolves into a being of action, the more opportunities you will come to recognize along your journey.


GOYA!

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Keep On Truckin'

Somedays you feel like this little guy...you try and try and still can't get up. Don't fret, this too shall pass, just don't stop trying!

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Aim Before You Shoot

Something interesting about hitting goals...you actually have to know what you're aiming for! I know, I know, this sounds like a rudimentary part of philosophy, but most people don't seem to know about it. If you don't have a goal, you'll never hit one!

It is not merely enough to say to yourself, "I want more money," or "I want a better relationship," or any of the like. During one of our business overviews, I asked the audience to raise there hand if they wanted more money. About 75% of the room raised their hands (What does that tell you about the 25% that didn't even bother?). The man who raised his hand the quickest I called on stage. After everyone gave him a hand, I handed him a penny.

I quickly congratulated him in the accomplishment of the goal of wanting "more money." Do you think he was thrilled? But why wouldn't he be? He wanted more, and he got more without having to do anything differently? The truth is, that we have these wishy washy goals. We say words like more and better, but in reality we don't know how to define that.

If we are confused in thinking about what it is exactly that we want in our life, how much more confused do you think the universe is when taking your order. You are sending out the vibe of "I think I want something, but it's a little like this, not so much like that, but something close would be fine." Yeah, nonsense, right? So many people set goals in that way and then wonder why they go backwards in life instead of forward. BE SPECIFIC.

Just as in 'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill, you must set a CLEAR, CONCISE MENTAL PICTURE. Not a fuzzy kinda there picture. Clear. Concise. Absolute. Certain. Once the goal is rock solid, then you can begin to expect change.

I'm very excited about my bucket list. I'm almost done. I'm excited to share it with you. I'm hopeful that you are putting one together also. Not only will it be fun to open up the universal catalog and decide precisely what it is you want, it is going to be uncontainable when you actually start acquiring the life you set out for yourself.

As this new week begins, let your goal setting be clear and don't be afraid to want what you really want. You don't have to be a philanthropist all the time. It's okay if your primary goal isn't to fund an orphanage in Africa. So what if your most burning desire is to have a 10,000 square foot home over looking the ocean? It's your goal, your life. Trust me, if you have a goal that moves you, you'll be able to fund more orphanages than if you merely set a goal because you think everyone else would approve. So good luck and get busy setting those goals!

TO LIMITLESSNESS!

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HAPPY SEPTEMBER

WOW! Another month is underway! It really is amazing to me how life continues to roll...no matter what we do with our time or don't do. I have been contemplating a lot lately about what I want to do with my life. I came across a short snippet in SUCCESS magazine written by Mark Victor Hansen. Let me share it with you:

IT ONLY TAKES 15 MINUTES, a piece of paper and a pen to put your life goals in motion. In his audio series THINK BIG, Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, says to write down 101 of your life goals, small and large within 15 minutes. Don't self edit or second-guess - just write. Your list can include small goals like paint the living room or larger goals like open up that restaurant I have always dreamed about. After you finish your list, assign each goal a deadline - whether it's a few hours or a few years. Your list will highlight your areas of interest, show you how to spend your time and propel you to go for your goals.

Funny how a small paragraph can shift your paradigm of life. I had a huge "A-ha" moment and it really was exciting. I've been working on a "bucket list" for a few days now. I am filling it up until I have 101 things on that list. My next step after that will be to continually cross off each item on that list until it is completed. At that point, I guess I can do it over again with a new list:o).

When I am done with the list and the deadlines, I will not only post it in the "Bucket List" section, but I will document my trials and triumph as I set out to reach each and every goal on that list. After all, that's what life is for, right? To make happen the things that matter most. It's an exciting prospect, and a little daunting. I don't know how some of the things on that list will happen, yet...but all I need to think about right now is what I want those goals to be. I'll let myself come together with what I need in order to achieve those goals.

Hopefully, you will do this, too. What have you got to loose?

REACH FOR THE STARS!

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Tell Me What You WANT...

What are some of your goals? What are some of your dreams? For those of us who never really have been in a position to truly examine those questions...it might seem like a far fetched idea to even have such things! The reality is that we are never too old, or too unavailable to reach what we desire. The real challenge, though, comes when we get passed that.

When we are too scared to tell others what we want, because we fear their reaction. It seems most of our actions as humans on this planet come from our need to feel accepted. We feel intimidated to dream big or to go for an uncommon goal because we don't want to look foolish in front of others. What a load of crock that is!

My dream car is the new SMART car. I say this and as you read it most of you probably just chuckled. I don't care! I really love those cars! Most of my friends and family have given me nothing but grief through their teasing about this car. They give me a hard time and each time they see one they laugh and send me a picture of it on my phone.

But.....WHO CARES? I want it! That is a goal I have! Why would it matter to me what others think about it? At least I have the guts to have a goal, no matter how big, small, silly, great, or otherwise you think it might be. When our fear of others grows dimmer we become stronger. It will allow us to reach for the stars while others stand around and point.

Imagine if you knew that for ONE day you could go out and talk to anybody about anything and you knew for 100% surety that they would SUPPORT you. That not a single soul that whole day would mock you, intimidate you, tease you, laugh at you, or scorn you. EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY person with whom you come into contact will do as you ask and move you in the direction of your goal. IMAGINE what all you could accomplish. The feeling of surety, and power, and of self confidence you would have could not be toppled, because inside you have the utmost belief that all will turn out well.

Most of us, however, walk around scared. Scared to approach others with ideas and goals, because we fear their rejection and their lack of respect for what we have to offer. By growing our mind, our thinking, and elevating ourselves to a level that demands respect, that fear can grow dimmer and dimmer...until one day it is completely extinguished.

So dream big! Set your sights high! Be BOLD in your aspirations!

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Greener Grass

Have you ever heard the expression "The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence?"

Obviously cliches have a chance to stand their value within the test of time because they generally ring true for the majority. How many times have you wished you were somewhere else, thinking that a new circumstance would get you to a higher station in life? We've all been there.

One of the most insightful comments I had ever heard came from a young lady I interviewed for a position in our business. She couldn't have been more than twenty years old, but the wisdom she brought to the table stayed with me for a long time.

Her childhood experience had gone through rough patches and beyond. Her relationship with her folks was less than harmonious and she was barely getting by financially. She had a boyfriend with whom she lived and one day they were rehashing life's plans. Her ultimate conclusion was to get away! She felt as if everything would be better if they could simply change their location and start "fresh" somewhere else.

Her boyfriend then stopped her and wisely beyond his youth explained the following to her:

"All that will change if we move somewhere else is the place where we live! Nothing else changes. You are still you and I'm still me, just now somewhere else!"

With that tiny, albeit valuable, pearl of wisdom I realized that it's not the problems or our surroundings that need to change. We as individuals need to change. Not just in minor ways, either. We need to transform our thinking into such giants of mind that the same challenges that perplex us daily would seem as minor annoyances at worst. See really, it's not the size of the problem that really matters to us all that much. When we are bothered it is the size of "us" that keeps us in a state of frustration.

During our journey in life, if we take it upon ourselves to learn how the mind works, adapt new ways of thinking, and constantly surround ourselves with powerfully positive thinkers, we have no choice but to move along our path in a direction that will bring us happiness and success. TO YOUR CONTINUED GROWTH!

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