How Life Can Be A Dream - Achieving Your Goals

by Dr. Robert C. Worstell

A lot of people - probably most of us - have at some point dreamed of being especially outstanding. Fantasies of being the star player on a team, or the homecoming queen, or fantastically rich - all these abound. Some simply want to be successful and have happy relationships.

For all our big dreams and great aspirations, our dreams remain just that - dreams. And our hopes for future success and notoriety seem to collect dust up in our mental attic.

Just in recognizing their presence could become another sad reminder in our lives. By reviewing the glorious hopes, we can find that far from living this life of excitment, we are only stuck in the daily grind of our routine jobs. Often, just barely existing under the debt and threat of job loss.

But what do you know? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to convert these dreams to realistic action.

Most people stop working to achieve any goal because they believe in a little white lie called "impossible." People have a lot of phrases to justify taking no action toward their goal: "I can't do this." or "It's too hard." "It's too unrealistic." "No one can do this."

And if our industry leaders and celebrities all thought this way, there would probably never be any inventions, discoveries, or breakthroughs which make up the list of human accomplishments.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumble, bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.

Another self imposed limit is where people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

To the degree you limit yourself with doubt and assumptions of pre-ordained failure, you may never be able to have any breakthrough past what you now consider to be impossible. Sky high dreams can only fail when you take no action toward any goal you've set.

You can try this exercise. On a sheet of paper, write down a goal you'd like to achieve. Now under that, make three headers - Things you know you can do; Things you might be able to do; and Things which are impossible to do.

Now work out the steps you can see right now that would help you achieve that goal. Put them under each header according to how hard you think they are to attain or achieve.

Now work out the steps you can see right now that would help you achieve that goal. Put them under each header according to how hard you think they are to attain or achieve.

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’

Moving through this process, you may find that the goals you once considered impossible are now far more realistic and doable. The impossible has begun to look possible.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic. Break that star-high goal into little tiny steps which you can do right now. As you get these done, then you'll find that the 'might be able to do' steps are also able to be accomplished when you break them down. After awhile, you can see that nothing is particularly impossible to achieve.

It's only those who dream and never take action who inherit disappointment and disillusionment.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But through sheer desire and perseverance, and building on all the little and doable steps in between, these impossible dreams are now realities.

So dream on, friend! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. Plan your work and work your plan. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.

Because your life could be a dream - if you really you want it to be.

Known for extensive writing in self-help and personal development, Dr. Robert C. Worstell (see author interview) has just published a New Age fiction book, "The Dreamer Dreamed" which explores the concept of how life could be a dream, among other ideas. This book employs his understanding of various spiritual meaning books and research.

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If You Can Dream, You Can Have the Cream

By A Horton

Napoleon Hill, renowned personal development Guru once said "Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve". This is such a powerful statement and when explored a little further. It shows that if you allow yourself to have huge expectations and you can find it within yourself, to see yourself actually living them; nothing is beyond the realm of possibility for you.

The super achievers I have studied, all had these two elements present. They all held really big pictures of possibility in their minds. Their vision of what they saw for themselves in the future was massive and they all believed without exception that they had what it took, could learn what they needed, or could get someone, with the necessary skills to support them, so that they would achieve their huge expectations. There was a complete belief that they would eventually succeed, they did not doubt the possibility for a second.

Understanding Your Expectations and Belief

• Where do you see yourself five, ten or twenty years from now?
• Do you have huge expectations and dreams?
• Can you actually feel and see yourself living those dreams?
• Do you believe what it takes to achieve the huge dreams you hold in your mind?
• Do you feel the fire of inspiration burning in your belly?

Explore your answers above. If you want to finally break out of average and start to realise all you are capable of achieving, then allow yourself to have huge expectations and find a way to believe that they are not only possible for you, but that you can actually already see yourself living the meaning and fulfilment they will bring.

My research has shown that super achievers all have a number of crucial elements present.

These are:

• A crystal clear vision, which they think about regularly and can easily and passionately articulate and communicate to anyone who will listen.
• 150 % belief in their ability to bring their vision to life.
• An Understanding about exactly why they want to achieve their vision.
• They were all inspired from within and showed incredible passion and a deep rooted desire to succeed.
• A remarkable ability to network and build mutually beneficial relationships with people.
• An incredible commitment towards lifelong learning.
• An unbelievable work ethic and self-discipline, where they schedule time and carry out goal specific actions daily.

Principles of extraordinary achievement

The principles for success as stated below are said a little differently by Napoleon Hill, but ostensibly his seven principles of extraordinary achievement are very similar to my research findings.

He believed the following:

• Definiteness of Purpose: He believed that if everyone had a clear plan and purpose they then had a solid foundation for inviting extraordinary achievement into their experience.
• Mastermind Alliance: He saw working as a collective mind, where more than two people worked together in harmony with each other, as a crucial element to success and super achievement.
• Applied Faith: He felt that with sufficient faith, people could turn their aims and desires into plans and purpose and finally, their tangible physical or financial reality.
• Pleasing Personality: Napoleon Hill felt that being likable was a crucial factor for success. He saw the sum of one's spiritual and physical traits or said differently a great personality, as the secret to success.
• Personal Initiative: All super achievers showed staying power and completed everything they started.
• Positive Mental Attitude: All super achievers are free thinkers, who hold onto a positive mental attitude.
• Enthusiasm: Enthusiasm is faith in action. All super achievers have a burning desire to succeed, which comes from within.

I hope this article has been of value to you. I have shared both my own research and the wisdom of one of the greatest personal development leaders of all time, with you in this article. You now have all the information you need to achieve remarkable success in your life. The only thing standing in the way of you achieving greatness is you. Dare to pull the trigger and allow yourself to make it happen for you.

Andrew is one of the most sought after Motivational Speakers and Sales Training experts in South Africa. You can trust him to deliver a motivational message that will re-energise your team and help them to ignite the fire of inspiration in their bellies once again. Should you want to inspire or re-energise your team, visit my website for details on one of the best Motivational Speakers around.

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Why is it important to improve yourself?

Sometimes, when all our doubts, fears and insecurities wrap ourselves up, we always come up with the idea of “I wish I was somebody else.”  More often than not, we think and believe that someone or rather, most people are better than us.- when in reality, the fact is, most people are more scared than us.

You spot a totally eye-catching girl sitting by herself at a party, casually sipping on a glass of Asti Spumanti. You think to yourself, “she looks so perfectly calm and confident.” But if you could read through her transparent mind, you would see a bunch of clouds of thoughts and you might just be amazed that she’s thinking “are people talking about why I am seated here alone?... Why don’t guys find me attractive? …I don’t like my ankles, they look too skinny… I wish I was as intelligent as my best friend.”

We look at a young business entrepreneur and say “Wooh… what else could he ask for?” He stares at himself at the mirror and murmur to himself, “I hate my big eyes… I wonder why my friends won’t talk to me… I hope mom and dad would still work things out.”

Isn’t it funny? We look at other people, envy them for looking so outrageously perfect and wish we could trade places with them, while they look at us and thinks of the same thing. We are insecure of other people who themselves are insecure of us. We suffer from low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence and lose hope in self improvement because we are enveloped in quiet desperation.

Sometimes, you notice that you have an irritating habit like biting off your finger nails, having a foul mouth, and you – of all people, is the last to know.

I have a friend who never gets tired of talking. And in most conversations, she is the only one who seems to be interested in the things she has to say. So all of our other friends tend to avoid the circles whenever she’s  around, and she doesn’t notices how badly she became socially handicapped – gradually affecting the people in her environment.

One key to self improvement is to LISTEN and TALK to a trusted friend. Find someone who you find comfort in opening up with even the most gentle topics you want to discuss. Ask questions like “do you think I am ill-mannered?”,  “Do I always sound so argumentative?”,  “Do I talk too loud?”,  “Does my breath smell?”,  “Do I ever bore you when were together?”.  In this way, the other person will obviously know that you are interested in the process of self improvement. Lend her your ears for comments and criticisms and don’t give her answers like “Don’t exaggerate! That’s just the way I am!”  Open up your mind and heart as well. And in return, you may want to help your friend with constructive criticism that will also help her improve her self.

One of Whitney Houston’s songs says “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.” True enough. In order to love others, you must love yourself too. Remember, you cannot give what you do not have.

Before telling other people some ways on how to improve themselves, let them see that you yourself is a representation and a product of self improvement. Self improvement makes us better people, we then inspire other people, and then the rest of the world will follow.

Stop thinking of yourselves as second-rate beings. Forget the repetitive thought of “If only I was richer… if only I was thinner” and so on.  Accepting your true self is the first step to self improvement. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others only to find out at the end that we’ve got  10 more reasons to envy them.

We all have our insecurities. Nobody is perfect. We always wish we had better things, better features, better body parts, etc. But life need not to be perfect for people to be happy about themselves.Self improvement and loving yourself is not a matter of shouting to the whole world that you are perfect and you are the best. It’s the virtue of acceptance and contentment. When we begin to improve ourselves, we then begin to feel contented and happy.

Enjoy Your Life: Change Your Point of View

"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars."- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

If you've been placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again?

In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist’s view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist’s route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.

So why nurture an optimist’s point of view? And why now?

Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but also a teen-ager’s disorder’ as well.

Here’s how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist:

Optimists expect the best

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune---it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the 'problem' at hand. They use 'positive reinterpretation.' In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.

They won’t say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.”

Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

People respond positively to optimists

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.

In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.

When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

They persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream.

Optimists are healthier and live longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.

Optimists’ health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.

So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life.

Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side?

Happy as You Want to Be

Almost everyone have heard the hit single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby Mcferiin's simple message surely made a lot of people by telling them not to worry.

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.

One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along with well with

Happiness is actually found in everyone, increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.

To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.

There are several ways by which you can do this.
 
Being grateful is a great attitude.  We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the mailman for bringing you your mails, thank the policeman for making your place safe and thank God for being alive.

News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. Try and think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.

A religious connection is also recommended. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations foster inner peace.

Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed  as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily everyday.  Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'.
 
Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.
 
Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.

Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday.  Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future.

Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.

Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.

These are the few simple things you can do everyday to be happy.

And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says that, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Techniques on How to Meditate for Beginners

by Neeraj Sharma

How to meditate properly is perhaps one of the most common ordeals of those who are beginners in meditation. How to meditate for beginners is actually not that hard as long as you know where to start and what specific steps to follow. When it comes to meditation, it is crucial that we keep in our minds that it is not the odd New Age activity that most of us think of it. Meditation does not necessarily involve having to head to Eastern parts of the world and travel up to the mountains, purely eat vegetables or be in a specific religion to practice it. Meditation is merely an instrument that helps us be ourselves and get in touch with a deeper sense of who we are. It is a great way for us to see the kind of life that we lead and how it unfolds before us and how we can allow things or people that come in our way to influence us. As a beginner in meditation, one must be aware that it has three fundamental concepts: mindfulness, practice and tranquility.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness in the context of meditation is actually an ancient Buddhist practice that has significant relevance in our day to day life. It may an ancient Buddhist practice but you do not have to be in Buddhism to follow it. Mindfulness means paying close attention and being sensitive of the things happening in and around us. When it comes to practicing mindfulness, you can practice it by placing your focus on purpose and the present moment without passing judgment. This may seem such a simple practice but it is said to be the very heart of meditation and is what helps in cultivating consciousness, clarity and acceptance of the reality of life.

Breathing Pattern
In meditation, breathing is a very important component because this is how promotion of relaxation can happen. There is the breath awareness meditation where it requires an individual to stay in one full inhale as it comes in and one full exhale as breath is released. During these moments, it is important to keep the mind open and free. Letting go of all thoughts and ideas is crucial in order to really be able to achieve a higher state of consciousness. When you feel that your mind starts to wander, you can slowly bring back your focus to your breathing and connect the moments of mindfulness altogether as you take in each breath.

Samadhi
The word Samadhi is actually the Sanskrit word which means concentration or literally "single-pointedness". This is actually a type of meditation where you bring your whole focus to an object or to your breathing and you need to focus deeply into awareness of the object. This is actually one of the most commonly practiced types of meditation that even beginners can use it. Through regular practice, the mind is able to become more proficient in concentration and focus and Samdhi is also a very calming and pleasant type of meditation. When you do a Samdhi meditation, you may want to try of thinking of a candle flame for starters or any object that will not tempt your thoughts to wander and distract you.

To learn to meditate London is not really that hard to do. The important thing in meditation in London is you are able to direct your focus and energy to really learn about it and not get easily frustrated along the way.

Join Sadhu Guru London yoga classes for beginners. Learn yoga to get lot of benefits, how to meditate for beginners, how to meditate properly, learn to meditate London.

The First Key To Success: Be Specific About Your Goals And Dreams

By Paula A Parker

Everyone likes to set goals and to dream big, but actually reaching those goals and dreams is often difficult. One crucial problem may be that you aren't being specific enough when thinking about and articulating what it is you want to achieve.

It's hard to begin or maintain a goal when your objectives are too vague. Take a common goal of trying to lose weight. Many dieters fall into the "my objectives are too vague" category and it causes them to lose incentive. For instance, they may set a weight loss goal of losing 40 or 50 pounds, but then what? After a few weeks, with no real plan in place, they get discouraged.

By being specific and detailed about your goal, however, you increase your chances for success. You could set up a very specific goal of losing two pounds a week: one and a half pounds through diet, and a half pound through exercise. Now you can easily calculate how many calories you need to eat each day, and how much exercise you need to meet your weight loss goals.

Of course, this is only the beginning of the battle, but getting off on the right foot with a real and specific plan in place puts you ahead of the game and encourages you to stick with your goal. This simple but effective concept can be applied to any goal you have and will help you stay on the path to success.

Take another very common example. Some people when asked what they wish for most in life will say, "I want to be rich."

Okay, well, who doesn't? "One day I want to be rich" is a very enticing dream, but what road map can you follow to be rich? How do you even start to achieve such a vague goal?

Instead, you might set a more specific and definable goal of opening your own business. This, by the way, probably won't make you rich, but now you can see you have a real starting point. You are no longer living in dreamland. You now have something to work toward, something real to achieve.

And who knows, as you go along in the process of defining and achieving, you may find that your dreams change along with you. Maybe being wealthy really isn't that important to you, afterall. Maybe the personal satisfaction of starting and running your own business is achievement enough for you. And if you can make a decent living out of it, then you really have achieved something.

These are just two examples of how giving your goals and dreams specific details can help you get started on your way and increase you chances for success. It's okay to set big goals and have great expectations in life. Just remember, a dream will always remain a dream unless you can give it a specific and achievable definition.

Paula A. Parker is a freelance writer and owner of http://www.behappyzone.com where she writes inspirational articles about finding happiness and maintaining a positive outlook in life. You can read more about reaching goals in her article: Keeping Your Dreams Alive

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