Jim Rohn's Secrets to Goal Setting Mastery

Jim Rohn was one of America's foremost business philosophers and a master personal development coach. One of the greatest contributions Jim Rohn shared with the world is his SMART system; a proven method on how to effectively set and achieve goals.
 
SMART is an acronym that means Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive. The secret key to success in the new millennium is how you set and pursue goals and the application of the SMART system will not fail to deliver an abundant and fulfilling future

Here's a closer look at each of components of SMART:

Specific: A SMART goal is specific. Your goals should be specific and clear. Vagueness is a goal destroyer. Ambiguous goals produce ambiguous results. When you are specific, you harness the power of your dreams and set forces into action that compel and empower you to achieve your goals. There is no question about what you want to achieve. As you establish your priorities and manage your time, you are able to concentrate on your specific goal to achieve the results you expect.

Measurable:  A SMART goal is measurable. Jim Rohn suggests that you always set goals that provide you with a means of measuring your progress. They should be such that you know not only when you are progressing forward, but also how far you are progressing.  Measuring your progress keeps you on track. You cant arrive at a destination if your not able to determine where you were going.  Measurable goals also gives you a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment by giving you a instant feedback of your forward progress.

Attainable:  A SMART goal is attainable. One of the biggest goal setting faux pas is to set goals that are so high they are unattainable. While I do believe that it is important for you to set big goals that cause your heart to soar with excitement, I also believe that it is imperative to make sure that you can attain those goals. So what does it mean to set a goal that is attainable?  An attainable goal is one that is both realistic but also attainable in a shorter period of time than what you have to work with. We will talk about realistic goals in the next component. Setting attainable goals doesn’t mean setting easy goals. Your goals should be set so they are just out of your reach; so they will challenge you to grow and stretch as you reach forward to achieve them.

Realistic: A SMART goal is realistic.  Your goals have to be something that you can reasonably make "real" or become a "reality" in your life. There are some goals that simply are not realistic. How then do you know your goals are realistic or not?  This to some degree up to each individual. To gauge if  your goal is realistic or not you need to extremely honest with yourself as you evaluate what you want to achieve and engage in your planning.  Here are some examples of unrealistic goals: trying to earn a billion dollars in one day, lose two hundred pounds in two days, get a law degree in one year, etc. 

Time:  A SMART goal has a time deadline. Each of your goals should have a time deadline attached to it.  Having a time deadline cuts off the thief of procrastination. Effective goals have an specific end time, a time in which you have set in order to achieve what it is that you want. Goal deadlines are great motivators because they move you into taking consistent and constructive action.

SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time.

Get going.  Use the SMART system today.  Implementing Jim Rohn's SMART system in your goal setting routine will not only put you on the fast track toward achieving your success, but it will also help you to be encouraged and inspired as you achieve your heartfelt dreams and desires.



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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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5 Amazingly Simple Goal Setting Techniques

Goal setting techniques needn’t be a chore.  If you are passionate about changing the circumstances in your life and carving out a compelling an fulfilling lifestyle that you  have previously only dreamed about then its crucial to find the fastest and most direct route to get there.

Some years back as a newbie goal setter I came upon a goal setting system offered by personal development guru that was cumbersome, confusing, and in the end brought me to tears.  What I wanted was a few simple steps that I could apply in my life in an instant so that I can begin to to achieve immediate results.

What I discovered is that I didn’t need a fancy system or method for setting and achieving my heartfelt goals.  If you want a fast, simple, and more importantly effective goal setting method, all you need is a piece of paper and a written response to the five following goal setting steps:

1. Know exactly what you want.  Knowing what you want is like the key that starts the engine of your success mobile. Knowing what you want gives you clarity, direction and a purpose.
2. Write it down.  Writing your goal down on paper does several things but in a nutshell it lets your conscious and subconscious mind know that your serious. “Hey guys,” it says, “take a look at this! The boss wrote it down! This is important.”
3. Attach a reasonable deadline to your goal.  A goal set without a deadline is a dream.  Here is an example of how I attach deadlines to my goals that you may find helpful to you.  Before my written goal I write the following: “On or before date/month/year . . .”
4. Break your goal down into doable steps.  Personal development great Anthony Robbins calls this “chunking it down.”  I call this the “pizza pie” technique.  You cant (well at least I cant) sit down and eat a large, gooey, cheesy, pizza all in one bite.  You take it slice by slice.  Break your goal down into smaller steps.
5. Take effective action everyday.  This is where you take your broken down goal steps and go for it.  If you want to succeed in life you must take action and do what you need to do to get from where you are to where you want to be. 

Effective goal setting is an easy process and achievement of your goals begins when you follow the five simple techniques of goal setting presented above.  So go for it! Get your piece of paper out today, write down what you want, give it a deadline, break it up into steps, and go out there and make it happen!

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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The Only Day That Matters

"Now is the only time. How we relate to it creates the future. In other words, if we’re going to be more cheerful in the future, it’s because of our aspiration and exertion to be cheerful in the present. What we do accumulates; the future is the result of what we do right now." ~ Pema Chodran

"Do not carry the burden of the past; do not live in the future. The only important thing is that one lives in the present authentically and fully. Whatever your current life is, be the most you can be by living in the moment." ~ Chan Chih

There are two days in every week, about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and its poor performance; Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today. Any person can fight the battle of just one day. It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad, it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring. Let us, therefore, live but one day at a time.

Author: Unknown

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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The Incredible Power of a Smile

This morning I had the opportunity to recognize the incredible power of a smile. As I stood in line at the supermarket I had the opportunity to admire a rosy cheeked baby who seemed fixated on my face. I couldn’t help myself - I smiled at him, and he instantly smiled back causing me to feel those familiar, warm, fuzzies in my heart.

Smiles are powerful things, and very contagious. As the other people around me noticed the child smiling his incredible, toothless grin, they began to smile as well, setting off a chain reaction of smiles by passerby’s. The sad truth however is that few people become aware of this simple mood lifter, and even fewer; ever take the time to smile on purpose.

In my own life I believe that I have gleaned a lot of valuable wisdom from being in the trenches of life. I feel privileged and honored as it seems that my life has been enriched with loads of great and memorable experiences even though there were a few difficult circumstances to deal with along the way. As a Transformational Spirituality teacher I have the honor of getting to know and of associating with a lot of really fun and interesting people, and I have been able to enjoy numerous hours of pleasure engaging with them and making fun memories with each of them in the process. I am happily married, I love my children, and I am vibrant and healthy.

Yet, perhaps like you, there are days in my life when I allow myself to become bombarded with negatives and all I want to do is to hide myself away somewhere and have a good cry. It’s on those rare days that I gratefully recollect the wisdom that my dad always gave me as a child. When I was having an off day he would say to me, 'Dar, remember, whatever happens today, don't forget to smile, because nothing is ever as bad as it seems.'

I've found my dad's advice extremely helpful on countless occasions as I encountered some of life's curve balls. I remember one Friday morning when I was ten. I ditched elementary school because I felt as if my life was about to end. My pet rat Rosie died the night before and I felt like I couldn’t face the world.　The pain was so great that my ten year old heart thought that I was going to die.

However, I felt better about Rosie's death later that evening after my girlfriend Barbie invited me to spend the night at her house for a pajama party. We watched cartoons, played games, and smiled and laughed as we read elephant jokes to one another. The smiles and laughter eased my broken heart.

I also remember a time when I was in high school and feeling as if my life ceased to have meaning. I was interested in student government, ran for class secretary, and I lost. I felt like a complete failure, and the feeling of rejection literally crushed me inside. Dad told me to keep my head up and to remember to smile, and he assured me that my life would turn out just fine even though I was not nominated.

Smiles are incredibly powerful. Here are some ways you can use the power of a smile in your own life:

• Practice smiling at yourself. In my present life, having gleaned the secret power behind a smile, I honor myself and my father by facing every day with a smile. No matter what I may be going through, the minute I greet my face in the bathroom mirror I smile at myself. Practicing smiling at yourself will also do wonders for your self-esteem.
• Look for the humor in life. One of the biggest things that have allowed me to face each day with a giant smile on my face is my pet children. My "kids" help me to keep my sense of humor and my internal laughter meter at 110 percent smiles.　 Especially my curious cat, T-Bone. My pet kids are always doing hilarious things that keep me laughing throughout the day, causing me to keep a smile on my face no matter how harried my day may be. Look for the humor in your life on a daily basis. Throughout the years I have trained myself to look for what is funny in various situations in my life, and I have found that there are a variety of ways that you can look for the humor in life. As an example, watch funny television shows and movies, go to comedy clubs, or read funny anecdotes and jokes.
• Smile for no reason at all, and more importantly, smile often. A smile can change your emotional state in an instant! Remember the warm fuzzies I told you about when the baby smiled at me in the market?　 Medical science has found that smiling activates certain neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin, which is often referred to as the "feel good" hormone.

Find reasons to activate the power of a smile in your own life starting today, and remember those words a very wise man shared with me so many years ago -　 'whatever happens today, don't forget to smile. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems.'

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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Highly Effective Strategies for Overcoming Procrastination

In this day and age we are so inundated with choice and opportunity that you might even say that we are spoiled for choice. There is just so much that we could do that we often end up not doing anything at all. Procrastination is one of the biggest dream killers. In a world where there is so much demand on your attention it is becoming ever more difficult to stay focused and act on the things that would truly give you an extraordinary quality of life. Time is, was and will always be your most valuable asset and the way you use it will determine what you create or fail to create with and for your life. Having an effective strategy for overcoming procrastination is critical if you truly want to push past short term obstacles to create a life of fulfillment.

The abundance that modern life offers us tends to overwhelm us which leads to an emotional overload that will distract you and scatter your effort and concentration. There simply isn't enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time for the most important things in your life. Success at anything in life, whether it be your finances, your relationships or your body, requires an investment of time and effort from you. You need to focus and concentrate your physical and emotional resources on creating a desired result.

The first step in overcoming procrastination it to get really clear on exactly what you want from every area of your life. This clarity will give you the power to look past distractions that may throw you off course. It gives you a direction and a target and will help to build a mental picture for your life. One of the most destructive effects of procrastination is that it makes you feel out of control; like the events of your life is controlling you. If you don't know what you want it is all too easy to jump from the one task to the next. Apart from knowing what you want you should also develop some strong reasons why you want it. This will give you a sense of purpose and motivation that is critical for staying focused long term.

The truth is that most people know what they need to do to create their life the way they want it. The challenge is not with knowing what to do, but in doing what you know. The only way you will create any result in your life is by taking action and procrastination is what prevents you from acting on the very things you know would give you a greater quality of life. The reason why people procrastinate is primarily because of fear, especially fear of failure. By not taking action and postponing important actions you avoid the potential for failing. The only reason why you procrastinate about anything is because at some level you link more pain to taking action than to not taking action. The ridiculous truth is that these "links" are mostly conjured up (by you) in your mind and they are not even real. When you make a task too big in your mind it will overwhelm you and it would seem too difficult and too big and you will end up procrastinating.

One of the most powerful strategies for overcoming procrastination is to learn how to break your tasks up into bite size pieces. Any task, no matter how big can be broken down into small manageable tasks that is easy to do. If you focus on climbing Mount Everest it will probably put you off immediately, but if you focus on climbing seven small mountain sections it becomes more believable. The power of chunking down your "big" tasks empowers you to take back control of any overwhelming situation – you cut it down to size. Your size.

One of the quickest ways to overcoming procrastination is to learn and utilize the power of immediacy. What can you do immediately? What action can you take right now that will move you closer to your goal? Doing something, no matter how small, will immediately break your mental pattern of procrastination and put you back in control. Taking the first step, even if it is small will create momentum and you will almost automatically be driven to take another step. Don't wait for everything to be perfect before you take the first step. Just do it. Just get it going. Often you will only know what to do next after taking that first step.

There are many strategies and skills you can use for overcoming procrastination. You don not have to be stuck or spinning your wheels. Like any skill you need to learn and practice it until you get good at it. Eventually it will become an automatic response and you will develop the habit of taking action despite your fears and apparent limitations.


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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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Earl Nightingale’s Fool Proof Daily Action Plan

Earl Nightingale was one of American’s most revered pioneers of personal development, and a true self-help legend. Since Earl’s passing March 25th, 1989, Nightingale-Conant continues to be among the elite companies in the world offering personal development and self-development courses and workshops.  One of the greatest contributions of Mr. Nightingale shared with the world in terms of power packed productivity are his tips on how to maximize your day to day productivity through a daily action plan. 

“We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully engaged in work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we've established for ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and comfort to our sleep. It makes everything else in life so wonderful, so worthwhile,” says Earl Nightingale.

Earl Nightingale’s ideas about setting and achieving goals are simple, practical, and of course effective.  Per Earl, the number one rule in terms of creating a fool proof daily action plan was always  ‘first things first’.  He passionately modeled the sage wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi with abundant and lasting results, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Earl Nightingale’s Fool Proof Action Plan consists of the following four steps:

1.  Before you go to bed at night, make a written list of those things you need to do the next day in order of importance. 
2.  The next day focus on item number one of your list until it is done, mark it off, and then go to the next item.
3.  Learn to minimize distractions.
4.  Whatever you don’t get done – put at the top of your list tomorrow.

In the words of Earl Nightingale, “All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.”   Get into the success habit of not only creating a daily action plan but also dedicating yourself to complete each task on that plan to create not only compounding momentum towards achieving what it is that you want to achieve in life, but also lasting and compelling change in your life.
 

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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Meditation: A Surefire Method to Find Inner Peace

How to find inner peace seems to be one of the biggest trends of the 21st century. Learning to seek out enlightenment and inner peace seems to be the buzz trend. People are buying up books everywhere and running from guru to teacher to try to find that inner peace they so desperately crave. So then, who really has inner peace and how did they find it? I dont know about you, but when I first began my quest for inner peace I felt a bit lost when it came to uncovering the Truth.

One surefire method for determining if you are on the right path on your way to discovering inner peace is to simply ask yourself the question, "Am I more at peace than I was a year ago or six months ago?" If you feel that you are finding more peacefulness as you progress on your path, then you know it must be working.

If you aren't sure if you have been more peaceful, or if you think that maybe it isn't working then I suggest that you learn to to sit still a little more each day. Sitting still each day, and closing your eyes as you sit, can be a great way to calm your mind and emotions so that peacefulness eventually becomes more normal for you. Here is a bit of wisdom for you to ponder on your path to peacefulness -inner peace only comes from one place and that's the inner part of you! If you find that you aren't feeling peaceful, it's time to look deeper within yourself.

Many times, when people decide to start a daily meditation program, they discover that their thoughts and emotions are running wild inside of them and they feel almost instantly discouraged. Common statements from beginners are "Am I doing it right?", "How should I sit?" and "Should I concentrate on my breathing?"

If you find yourself thinking the same thoughts, relax. There is no "right" way to sit still or "correct" thing to concentrate on when you meditate. You're goal is to simply sit still with your eyes closed and relax. Don't fall asleep but don't worry so much about whether it is "right" or "wrong". If you are sitting there with your eyes closed then it is right! That's all there is to it.

I think that, especially for beginning meditators, that the hard part comes when you start judging and analyzing all of the thoughs and emotions which arise. You then feel that this causes alot of frustration with what you are trying to do. But what are you trying to do? Nothing! So why then did you get so frustrated about nothing?

The main issue for novice meditators is that they think there is a special formula for meditation and a way of doing it that will make them an "expert". The truth is that there is no correct way of doing it and there is no set formula. Everything you do will be correct. Just sit there and, by doing it each day for a certain amount of time, this will eventually result in more calmness of your mental processes and an equilibrium of your emotions. The beginning, however, as you are teaching your mind and emotions to to not run rampant, can sometimes be the toughest time.

I like to think of it this way - did you ever try to teach a dog to sit still? You can usually teach him to sit but getting him to 'stay' is a bit tougher. This is oftent the same problem for people. People know how to sit but they never learn how to stay. If you can teach yourself to both sit and stay you will be among the very few people in the world who have learned a very valuable trick. For dogs, it takes some extra 'Scooby snacks' to get them to do it.

For human beings it sometimes requires a timer, a calendar and the fun game of checking off the days of the week as they complete their task of staying for 30 minutes or more. Some humans get to be experts at this trick and can sit still for over an hour and for several different times a day. These humans are sort of like the dogs you have seen on television who can perform in front of a panel of judges and can sit and stay for long periods of time. Their masters always love them a lot and they always win the contests they enter.

As funny as this comparison may seem, it actually applies quite well. If you learn to sit for longer periods of time without having to move around in your chair and without your mind doing cartwheels every moment, you will eventually start to win more things in life. The Master behind your thoughts and emotions will eventually come forward and reward you with a lot of great 'Scooby snacks'. Finding inner peace can be as easy as training a dog but you have to be a good dog who really wants to please his master. Now get out there and "sit" and, next time you do it, make sure and "stay" too!

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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The Quick and Easy Way to Conscious Awakening

Learning to consciously awaken allows you to celebrate those moments when you shift your consciousness, and to view life through the eyes of your Divine Essence. When you begin to consciously awaken you will begin to develop an appreciation and an awareness of your true spiritual nature.

This new awareness helps you to not only experience your inner Essence, but also motivates actions that are in harmony with your true spiritual nature. I once heard the phrase, "You are the dreamer living the dream." As a spiritual being, having a physical experience in this world, you and I have a Universal mandate to awaken from the deep slumber of unconsciousness through self observation and inner awareness.

Of course, contrary to the title of this article, there is no 'quick and easy way' to consciously awaken, but there are some proven shortcuts.

Carl Jung said, "Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside, awakes." The majority of the world is looking to outside circumstances of their lives to enrich and to inform them. They move without discernment from thought to thought, feeling to feeling, action and reaction. This is essentially what Jung calls a dream.

What do I mean? You and I have been programmed since birth by our parents, society, religious institutions, government, teachers and the like, on how to perceive and interpret, and act and react, in the world around us. Very rarely do people take the time to stop and take stock of their habitual thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and where they originated from.

If you want to consciously awaken to your true nature, you must take the time to look inside yourself to notice your habitual and automatic thoughts, actions, and reactions - instead of allowing yourself to experience every single thought and emotion that just seems to pop into your head. This is what conscious awakening is all about.

Taking the time to look inside causes you to discern the truth of every situation, to separate the real from the unreal, the truth from the false. It allows you to reconnect to the Divine Self and to experience joy in each waking moment.

How then can you learn to wake up from your unconscious slumber? Here are three effective ways you can apply in your life starting today:

1. Stop. New thought author Charles Haanel gives the following advice, "Begin by paying attention." When you experience a difficult situation and a negative thought or emotion emerges, literally stop what you are doing and pay attention to the thoughts you were thinking at that time. Ask yourself the following question: what was I just thinking? Take some time to write your answer onto a piece of paper. This is an important step. When you write something down your conscious mind pays attention.

2. Notice. Notice your emotional response to that thought. Where does it reside in your body? Is there tension in heart area, stomach, neck? How big is it? Does the feeling travel around to different areas of the body? Keep noticing it and don't be surprised if it suddenly just disappears!

3. Listen. Ask yourself the following questions: What is this situation trying to teach me? What is the gift in this situation? And finally, What can I do to turn this situation around? Be sure to write your answers down.

The Storyteller tells us, "Awake from your slumber! Arise from your sleep! A new day is dawning for all those who weep." Take the time each day to train yourself to wake up. Stop-notice-listen until it becomes a habit. Each time you put these three steps into action you train yourself to not only consciously take the reins of your mind, but also to live fully awake to the Joyful Presence that you are.

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional 
information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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4 Power Packed Tips to Help You to Crush Fear and Anxiety!

Some people have a difficult time managing their anxieties and fears, which often results in low self esteem and self-confidence. As a result, not only does low self esteem and low self-confidence carry over into other areas of your life such as in your career, and in your relationship with others, but it can also affect your motivation to carve out a life of success and achievement. This means that if you want to put your best foot forward in life and to be effective that you must learn to manage your fears and anxiety.

The truth is that you can decide to manage your fears and anxieties or you can let them manage you! To crush fear and anxiety you must choose to take control by facing your fears and breaking through them. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face."

Here are four valuable tips you can apply in your life starting today to help you effectively manage your fears and anxieties, and that will you to help to raise your self esteem:

1. Exercise patience and persistence with yourself. Remember that practice makes perfect. Whenever it comes to dealing with your anxieties or any other task; practice, patience, and persistence is the name of the game. If you don't get the desired results the first time around, then keep trying until you do get the results. Through practice, you will become better at the task at hand and your self-confidence will increase.

2. Use your fear and anxiety as a learning partner. In every anxiety related situation you experience, you can begin to look for and to learn what works, what doesn't work, and what you need to improve on in managing your fears and anxieties. When you do this your fears and anxieties not only become a useful learning tool, but also a helpful guide. Here is an example - you are at work and begin to experience a lot of anxiety, so you decide to take a walk to help you feel better, and it works. The walk eases your stress and refreshes your mind, your body, and your emotions. The next time you begin to feel anxious you can remind yourself that you got through it the last time by taking a walk. This then inspires you and gives you additional confidence that you can and will be able to manage your anxiety the next time it surfaces.

3. Mentally rehearse a positive outcome when facing situations that bring out your fear or anxiety. Sometimes, you can get anxious over a task that you will have to perform in the near future. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind, and having a positive outcome. For example, you have to give a report at the next corporate meeting in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, see yourself addressing the group in your mind. Mentally see your audience being interested and engaged in what you are saying. By rehearsing the event first in your mind, you will feel better prepared to perform when the real time comes. Visualization is a great way to reduce not only your fear, but also the stress of an up coming situation - and it also increases your self-confidence by leaps and bounds.

4. Pray for Divine guidance. Prayer is an incredibly powerful thing, so do don't forget to pray and ask for Divine assistance and strength especially when you are feeling fearful or stressed out about something. As a human being you can only do and handle so much, so roll the overload into the lap of Universal Source. Asking for spiritual guidance can give you additional insights and resources to help you manage your fears, and to increase your self-confidence.

Endeavor to apply the above four tips in your daily life on a regular basis and watch your anxiety and fear disappear! It may feel at times that handling your fear and anxiety is a difficult process, but remember that you and only you can make the decision of whether or not you take a stand and control your fears, or if you will let your fears control you!

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." ~ Frank Herbert

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional 
information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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The Creative Power of Thought, Part 2

Your thoughts have the power to create or to destroy. The outer conditions in your life are a result of your most dominate thoughts.

Here is part 2 of The Creative Power of Thought, excerpted from the New Thought Classic book, The Dore Lectures on Mental Science, by Thomas Troward:

The Creative Power of Thought, Part 2.

Now we can go a step further and see how this power in ourselves can be perpetuated and intensified. By the nature of the creative process your mind is itself a thought of the Parent Mind; so, as long as this thought of the Universal Mind subsists, you will subsist, for you are it. But so long as you think this thought it continues to subsist, and necessarily remains present in the Divine Mind, thus fulfilling the logical conditions required for the perpetuation of the individual life. A poor analogy of the process may be found in a self-influencing dynamo where the magnetism generates the current and the current intensifies the magnetism with the result of producing a still stronger current until the limit of saturation is reached; only in the substantive infinitude of the Universal Mind and the potential infinitude of the Individual Mind there is no limit of saturation. Or we may compare the interaction of the two minds to two mirrors, a great and a small one, opposite each other, with the word "Life" engraved on the large one. Then, by the law of reflection, the word "Life" will also appear on the image of the smaller mirror reflected in the greater. Of course these are only very imperfect analogies; but if you car once grasp the idea of your own individuality as a thought in the Divine Mind which is able to perpetuate itself by thinking of itself as the thought which it is, you have got at the root of the whole matter, and by the same process you will not only perpetuate your life but will also expand it.

When we realize this on the one hand, and on the other that all external conditions, including the body, are produced by thought, we find ourselves standing between two infinites, the infinite of Mind and the infinite of Substance—from both of which we can draw what we will, and mould specific conditions out of the Universal Substance by the Creative Power which we draw in from the Universal Mind. But we must recollect that this is not by the force of personal will upon the substance, which is an error that will land us in all sorts of inversion, but by realizing our mind as a channel through which the Universal Mind operates upon substances in a particular way, according to the mode of thought which we are seeking to embody. If, then, our thought is habitually concentrated upon principles rather than on particular things, realizing that principles are nothing else than the Divine Mind in operation, we shall find that they will necessarily germinate to produce their own expression in corresponding facts, thus verifying the words of the Great Teacher, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."

But we must never lose sight of the reason for the creative power of our thought, that it is because our mind is itself a thought of the Divine Mind, and that consequently our increase in livingness and creative power must be in exact proportion to our perception of our relation to the Parent Mind. In such considerations as these is to be found the philosophical basis of the Bible doctrine of "Sonship," with its culmination in the conception of the Christ. These are not mere fancies but the expression of strictly scientific principles, in their application to the deepest problems of the individual life; and their basis is that each one's world, whether in or out of the flesh, must necessarily be created by his own consciousness, and, in its turn, his mode of consciousness will necessarily take its colour front his conception of his relation to the Divine Mind—to the exclusion of light and colour, if he realizes no Divine Mind, and to their building up into forms of beauty in proportion as he realizes his identity of being with that All-Originating Spirit which is Light, Love, and Beauty in itself. Thus the great creative work of Thought in each of us is to make us consciously "sons and daughters of the Almighty," realizing that by our divine origin we can never be really separated from the Parent Mind which is continually seeking expression through us, and that any apparent separation is due to our own misconception of the true nature of the inherent relation between the Universal and the Individual. This is the lesson which the Great Teacher has so luminously out before us in the parable of the Prodigal Son.


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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved.  If you would like some additional 
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The Creative Power of Thought, Part 1

The power of your mind to create and direct your thoughts is a magnificent gift. Through the popularization of the Law of Attraction more people are paying greater attention to what they are thinking and manifesting in their lives.

In the New Thought Classic book, The Dore Lectures on Mental Science, by Thomas Troward, you are given an insightful glimpse on the creative power of thought, what it is, and how you can use it.

The Creative Power of Thought, Part 1.

One of the great axioms in the new order of ideas, of which I have spoken, is that our Thought possesses creative power, and since the whole superstructure depends on this foundation, it is well to examine it carefully. Now the starting point is to see that Thought, or purely mental action, is the only possible source from which the existing creation could ever have come into manifestation at all, and it is on this account that in the preceding addresses I have laid stress on the origin of the cosmos. It is therefore not necessary to go over this ground again, and we will start this morning's enquiry on the assumption that every manifestation is in essence the expression of a Divine Thought. This being so, our own mind is the expression of a Divine Thought. The Divine Thought has produced something which itself is capable of thinking; but the question is whether its thinking has the same creative quality as that of the Parent Mind.

Now by the very hypothesis of the case the whole Creative Process consists in the continual pressing so forward of the Universal Spirit for expression through the individual and particular, and Spirit in its different modes is therefore the Life and Substance of the universe. Hence it follows that if there is to be an expression of thinking power it can only be by expressing the same thinking power which subsists latent in the Originating Spirit. If it were less than this it would only be some sort of mechanism and would not be thinking power, so that to be thinking power at all it must be identical in kind with that of the Originating Spirit. It is for this reason that man is said to be created in the image and likeness of God; and if we realize that it is impossible for him to be otherwise, we shall find a firm foundation from which to draw many important deductions.

But if our thought possesses this creative power, why are we hampered by adverse conditions? The answer is, because hitherto we have used our power invertedly. We have taken the starting point of our thought from external facts and consequently created a repetition of facts of a similar nature, and so long as we do this we must needs go on perpetuating the old circle of limitation. And, owing to the sensitiveness of the subconscious mind to suggestion—(See Edinburgh Lectures, chapter V.)—we are subject to a very powerful negative influence from those who are unacquainted with affirmative principles, and thus race-beliefs and the thought-currents of our more immediate environment tend to consolidate our own inverted thinking. It is therefore not surprising that the creative power of our thought, thus used in a wrong direction, has produced the limitations of which we complain. The remedy, then, is by reversing our method of thinking, and instead of taking external facts as our starting point, taking the inherent nature of mental power as our starting point. We have already gained two great steps in this direction, first by seeing that the whole manifested cosmos could have had its origin nowhere but in mental power, and secondly by realizing that our own mental power must be the same in kind with that of the Originating Mind.

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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The Power of Patience and Persistence

I watched this afternoon as a young child waited patiently with his mother in a crowded Costco line for 20 minutes - for a slice of pizza, and I was impressed. When I was his age I had very little patience. If I wanted something, I wanted it then, and I wanted now.

This sort of “I want it now, now, now!” attitude stuck with me as I graduated from college causing my now ex-husband and I to drain our savings and our credit cards in order to enjoy a lifestyle that was way beyond our means. In the end our impatience to have it right now cost us a good credit score and resulted in filing for bankruptcy, notwithstanding a divorce a few years later.

Although it was a painful situation at the time I learned a valuable lesson and emerged wiser and with a more appreciative view of the power of patience and persistence.

Of course I know that I am not the only I’m not the only one with an “I want it, and I want it now!” mentality. People of all ages fall into this category of either wanting it all now, or wanting it without having to work for it. Impatience is costly. Not only can it lead to debt and start a cycle of unnecessary consumption and lifestyle inflation, but also impatience robs you of your drive and passion to enjoy the journey of progressive success and accomplishment.

The Power of Patience and Persistence

Of course, patience alone and persistence doesn’t always guarantee success in any particular area of your life, but it definitely increases your odds. Here are just a few of the ways patience can help you achieve your heartfelt goals:

• Patience and persistence allows you to not only notice opportunities but also to take advantage of them. I am sure you have heard the expression, ‘good things happen to those who wait.’ If you’re willing to forge the successful life you have always dreamed of step-by-step, instead of trying to force it, you will encounter opportunities that you may have overlooked if you were trying to sloppily rush towards achieving your goals.
• Patience and persistence increases your self-esteem. If you are really passionate about wanting to achieve something in your life, you will take pride in the process. I don’t know about you, but my heart soars as I focus on my daily action plan of success. With each step of my accomplishment not only does my self-discipline increase, but also my confidence in completing my project, as well as my self-esteem.
• Patience and persistence helps you to focus on what is important in life. In my experience, and perhaps in yours as well, I have noticed that as I age, my values change. Patience and persistence allows you to assess those things that really matter to you, and to practice focusing on those things and enjoying them. It is the pull of the pleasure of consistently pursuing your goals, spending quality time with the people you love, and just plain enjoying the beauty of life that keeps you engaged in life today – not the allure of climbing the corporate ladder.
• Patience and persistence keeps you focused on your goal. By utilizing a simple plan of action, patience and persistence keeps you disciplined and focused on what needs to be done next in terms of achieving your dream or goal. It means focusing on first things first, and not on those things that are either time wasters, or those things that have nothing to do with your goal at all. It means living your life your way by keeping your eyes focused on the prize of achievement.

The power of patience and persistence go hand in hand. If you can learn the value of patience and persistence, the world will open up to you. Remember, anything worth achieving in life is worth taking your time to do it in such a way that you enjoy all of the virtues of your focused passion, and keeping at it until you get your desired result. Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that can have patience, can have what he wills.”

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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Discovering Your Divine Soul Purpose

The new times that are arriving on the Earth will require a new kind of human being to navigate through the stormy waters of present day challenges and to create new solutions based on the spiritual principles of harmony, balance, and respect for life. At this time on the Earth, many souls are awakening spiritually, and coming to more deeply understand and experience their own unique and divine spiritual origins.

When a soul, embodied in human form, begins to awaken and realize their inner connection with spirit, a new path is forged within the body, mind, emotions and consciousness. The awakening human being begins to experience a greater depth of communion with spirit, and many new questions arise. One very important question the soul asks is, "why am I here?", and "for what purpose did Source create me?"

For some on the spiritual path, an inner understanding of divine soul purpose emerges relatively early in the spiritual journey, guiding and supporting them in the directions needed for optimal growth and manifestation of their life's work.

For others, knowledge of divine soul purpose eludes the human embodied self for quite a long time, necessitating a period of "walking in the desert" with little outward or even inward support that can be perceived. This period of seeking is purposeful on the soul's part, but may cause deep suffering to the embodied human self that feels empty, meaningless, and worried that they may be going in the wrong direction.

The manifestation of your divine soul purpose is as unique and precious as you are. The best way to discover that which is the guiding essence of your life purpose is to look within at what desires, dreams, aspirations, hopes and longings you carry most closely in your heart.

Source created you so carefully, and uniquely for the sacred purpose you embody. Think of the beauty of a newborn baby, the precious nature of their tiny fingers and toes, and the sweet wisdom in their eyes. We can see the divine blueprint of the soul clearly in the radiance of their simple and innocent being. In this same way, you are created uniquely for your spiritual purpose, with every finger and toe, every hair on your head known and accounted for by Source's infinite wisdom and grace.

Small children naturally begin to embody their soul purpose, even at a very young age. They are attracted to certain people and situations, and they relate to their environment in their own unique fashion. They may love animals, or spend their time drawing and painting, or they will play with cars and trucks, heal the neighborhood cats, or lead groups of children on the playground. They may enjoy singing and dancing, or they may read voraciously, or tinker with their computer. All the natural tendencies within, if allowed to flourish and expand, will lead a child to manifesting their divine soul purpose.

And what of we adults, who may have grown up in less than optimal circumstances where our natural tendencies were not supported? Perhaps we have forgotten what we most loved to do as a child, or perhaps even thinking about this brings up the pain of what we endured as children. How can we discover our divine soul purpose?

It may comfort you to know that you have not lost anything, even if you no longer feel in touch with your inner desires. The deep inner longing of your heart is never extinguished, even in the most difficult of circumstances. This is a quality of the soul that is eternal, that will lead you to manifesting your soul's purpose.

If you are feeling uninspired, disconnected from your divine soul purpose, it is possible to reconnect, by praying for this and creating a sacred intention to reconnect with your inner being. The prayer and intention activates a path of healing that will lead you towards that which you desire. If you have been disconnected for a very long time, you may find yourself experiencing deep emotions of grief or pain, as the reconnection to yourself is restored. If you can breathe and be with these emotions, without repressing them, but simply holding them in Source's light, this will create a healing and a freeing up on inner space.

The discovery of your divine soul purpose lies within your heart's desire. What do you most deeply long for? If you could do anything in the world what would that be? The path to manifesting your unique gifts in the world begins here, and then expands outward, as you begin to take actions based on your heart's calling. Your true life's work is this, to listen, follow, share your gifts, and manifest all that you are in the world of physical form. For this reason you came to the Earth at this time, to share all that you are with all of life.


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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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Crush Procastination with Purpose!

Are you a perfectionist? Let me reveal to you this important fact. Perfectionism can hinder you from achieving excellence at anything you do.

Usually, perfectionists are procrastinators. They don't start unless everything is just perfect. They don't even finish a task. They keep on delaying and putting it aside because it is not perfect yet.

Don't ever fall in this trap. The most difficult step is the first. Nothing should be perfect. The most interesting thing is that nothing would ever be perfect.

You must start with whatever resources you have at hand, then improve and grow. You must jump into the field and gain experience that you would never gain if you stay at your place putting perfect plans!

Here is one of my favorite quotes:

"Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better." ~ Pat Riley, Basketball Coach

Strive to do better and you will become excellent at what you do. Stop procrastination and waiting for everything to be perfect.

What gives you the motivation to start and take bold actions is having a clear purpose in life. When you have a true meaning for your life and passion for a big dream, you couldn't wait for things to be perfect. Instead you create your opportunities. The fire of passion drives you.

Having a purpose makes you fundamentally unstoppable. You are motivated to start and strive to become and do better along the way. If you have a purpose that fires your soul you would never sit and wait for circumstances or things around you to become perfect.

You will recognize that life is short and that you have to take action now.

When you live a purpose driven life, and understand that excellence can only be achieved by striving to do better every single day, then you are on the right track to achieve great results and massive success.

A purpose driven life is critical for you to overcome procrastination and perfectionism.

The power of your purpose will motivate you to take immediate actions. Life is short and success is a journey. You can never reach your destination without taking the first step!


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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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How to Eliminate Worry and Achieve Peace of Mind

A friend has this quotation on his office wall: "I know worry works because nothing I worry about ever happens."

I think I believe and resonate with those words of wisdom because I used to worry a lot -- and about the most insignificant things. I would worry about the big things as well of course, like health, relationships, and finances. But I used also fret about anything and everything that found its way into my consciousness.

Because I spent so much time on worry, I decided to embrace it and deal with it by turning it into a learning project. With and open mind and spirit, and with much research here is what I learned and applied in my life with significant results:

1. Notice when worry took out its running shoes and take a spin around my mind. 

Here is what I did - I would practice catching myself at it and say, "Hey, I'm worrying again." Once during my worry project while on my daily morning power walk, I caught myself worrying 10 times! I'm not kidding. What also learned during my worry project was that on those rare days when I didn't have anything to worry about, I would find something. What I've learned at the conclusion of my worry project is that worry is a mental habit that can be changed. I also rememberedh that I have the power to change my mental habits; and you do too, so take heart because there's hope.

2. Practice being the center of the Universe.

My second approach was to practice presence. By this I mean stopping my thoughts. In my workshops, I ring a bell to help participants practice mental and physical centering. The quieter we are, the longer we hear the bell. There's a lovely moment when we all listen . . . until the ring is barely audible . . . then just a memory. I relish that moment of quiet before my thoughts reengage. There is no future or past, just Now. No worrying thoughts -- no thoughts at all. It's a peaceful place, which is why I always attempt to stretch the moment. I want to strengthen the connection to something greater than my worries.

When I told my good friend Chang, a retired Buddhist Nun, about my worry project, she shared with me her approach, which is to do one of three things: decide to address the issue right then; if you can't do anything about it at the moment, give yourself a time to address it later; or decide that it is not important and let it go. In other words, act on it, file it or throw it away.

Finally, one of Chang's favorite worry stoppers (and mine) is to sing. Connect with your self, your creativity, and the place where everything really is okay by raising your voice in song.

Awareness and acknowledgment are the keys to changing your habits. Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of the martial art of Aikido spoke awareness as the 'Art of Peace', and said that we must "always practice the Art of Peace in a vibrant and joyful manner." One thing my worry project did was to help me to lighten up, laugh, and to smile, and to live each day in peace and joy.

Are you worrying? Take the time right now to stop your thoughts for a moment. Listen to the sounds around you, pay attention, and be present to this key moment. And smile for no reason at all, because you may find that's the best reason of all.


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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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Meditation 101: How to Meditate

Have you ever wondered how to meditate? There is no one set technique for participating in a meditation practice, no necessary tools, nor is there a prescribed set time for a meditation practice. Another great thing about meditation practice is that it can be performed anywhere, sitting down, standing up, or laying down.

So what is the best way for a beginner to perform meditation? In my own daily meditation practice I have found that the easiest and most practiced way to achieve a calm, meditative state is to focus on your breath.

The Buddha gave the following discourse concerning becoming aware of one’s breath:

“What is the way to develop and practice continuously the method of full awareness breathing so that the practice will be rewarding and offer great benefit?

“It is like this, the practitioner goes into the forest or to the foot of a tree, or to any deserted place, and sits stably in the cross-legged position, holding one’s body quite straight. Breathing in, one knows that one is breathing in; and breathing out, one knows that one is breathing out.

“. . . The full awareness of breathing, if developed and practiced continuously according to these instructions, will be rewarding and of great benefit.”

An Easy Meditation Practice For Beginners

1. Sit in a chair, or on the floor either in lotus or half-lotus position, keeping your spine erect.
2. Breathe in two to three times, inhaling through your nose, and exhaling through your mouth. As you exhale, physically relax your muscles in your body while still maintaining an erect posture. Feel your neck and face, and brow muscles relax.
3. Close your eyes. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose, drawing the air down into the pit of your stomach. This will cause your lower abdomen to push out slightly. Notice the air as it enters you nose. Observe how it feels as it fills your lungs.
4. Next, exhale slowly through your mouth. Pay attention to the air exiting your mouth. Notice how it feels as it exits your lungs and mouth. Just observe it.
5. If a thought arises such as “Did I pay my electric phone bill?”, or “I’m hungry”, don’t ignore the thought, just notice it and return to your breathing.
6. Continue this process as long as you’d like to, preferably 15 to 20 minutes.

The greatest challenge in the above exercise is what I call “soft” focus on the breath. Don’t try too hard to notice or analyze your breathing. Just pay attention to it. Most important of all – relax!

Quite often when I am teaching meditation it becomes readily apparent who is trying to “force” their attention on their breath. Their shoulders tense and rise with each breath, their jaw may clench, and a lot times their eyebrows wrinkle together. The key is to allow yourself to completely relax and to just allow the breath to come and go while observing it.

Learning how to meditate is a simple as stopping your daily routine, relaxing your body, and pausing a few minutes to focus on your breathing. Practice your breathing meditation on a daily basis, and before you know it, your mind and body will be hooked!

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Copyright 2012, by Dardarji. All rights reserved. If you would like some additional information on self improvement, meditation, and spirituality go to http://www.transformationalspirituality.com/ to down load free ebooks, mp3's, and other resources. Like us on Facebook!

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Your Life Purpose: From Curiosity to Life Passion

Did you ever have a parent tell you, possibly after you had asked one too many questions, "Curiosity killed the cat!"

Were you taught the story of Pandora who was given a box of gifts from the gods with instructions never to open the box? Unfortunately her curiosity got the better of her and she opened the box that released all the misfortunes that would plague mankind forever.

These and other childhood messages paint curiosity as bad and dangerous, something to avoid. So is it any wonder a child brimming with questions and innate curiosity becomes an adult who is stuck or dissatisfied with life, lacking the natural ability to be curious?

What if curiosity doesn't kill the cat or unleash misfortune?

What if curiosity gives you clues to what lights you up, to your passions and purpose?

What if curiosity offers an antidote to judgment of yourself and others?

Curiosity can be one of your most valuable allies in discovering and creating a life you love.

Curious? Read on.

Clues to Passion & Purpose

When using the tool of "checking your lights" to determine if an idea, activity, or goal energizes and enlivens you, most of the time you are clearly lit up or not. Sometimes, though, you are not strongly "lights on" and yet you sense a spark of light, a subtle increase in your energy. You're curious about something.

Your curiosity is worth pursuing: it offers clues to explore and steps to take to discover what you are passionate about. Follow the sparks of your curiosity. Journey the paths you haven't traveled before and be open to new interests and passions that could unfold.

You might even have an experience like mine: an initial spark of curiosity led me to discover my calling.

In my case, I had long known I preferred to be the question "asker" rather than the question "answerer" in social and business situations. I saw no relation, though, between this and the life calling I'd been seeking for years. Then I attended a Clarity International workshop to learn what lit me up. I was told I had "curiosity" about "interviewing." I was also curious about the process my Clarity coaches were using and the profound effect that process was having on people. So I followed my curiosity.

I attended more Clarity events and began Clarity coaches' training, staying curious and noticing what lit me up. Eventually I had the opportunity to "interview" workshop participants, asking questions in a way that helped them discover what truly lit them up. When I used my questioning skills to help others find their passions -- I had found my own passion and purpose! All this from following my initial sparks of curiosity. This experience definitely made me a believer in the power of curiosity!

I often ask clients to 'stay curious' about something or to follow their curiosity. When they do, they often discover something that helps them create more pleasure, passion, and purpose in work or life.

That's not all though. What else do you think curiosity can do for you?

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