H
abits are useful in that they keep us from having to concentrate on certain tasks that we repeat over and over again. Think of when you first learned to drive a car. You would really have to concentrate on every aspect of your driving. Now, after years of experience, driving has become a habit (hopefully a good one!). You don't have to think about it nearly as much. That's what we call learning.Habits have their dark side, too. They can stifle your creativity, prevent you from taking advantage of new opportunities, and waste a lot of time and money. Habits like cigarette smoking, eating too much fat, and drinking too much alcohol or caffeine can be very harmful to your health.
The trick is to learn to control your habits -- to get rid of the harmful ones and encourage the good habits that will take you in the direction of your goals. Most great accomplishments require consistent efforts over a long period of time. Developing the right habits will take care of the "consistent efforts" part. Time will take care of itself -- it will continue to march forward whether you are going forward with it or not.
Getting rid of an undesirable habit takes a conscious effort. It is not easy. It is certainly possible, though, and with enough energy and desire can be accomplished. It is foolish to say that your habits control you -- that is admitting defeat. Developing a good habit is difficult work, as well. Any parent knows how much effort and patience it takes to teach their child to brush his teeth twice a day, look both ways before crossing the street, wash his hands before eating, other things like that. It is not easy. It requires determination. And it is vitally important.
Next time you find yourself driving your car, with your seat belt buckled, think about how you got there. Do you remember putting on your seat belt? Hopefully, it is just an automatic motion that you do without thinking. And someday, it could save your life. It is just a little thing that takes almost no time -- its power comes in the fact that you do it every time you get in the car. Ask yourself, what other habits can I develop that will allow me to consistently, automatically, move toward my goals?
Occasionally, people are able to take a shortcut to success. They get lucky, win the lottery, get in on a once-in-a-lifetime business deal, just happen to be in the right place at the right time. It does happen, but it is not a reliable path to success. Many people spend their whole lives just waiting for that lucky break. Buying those lottery tickets week after week, and never, ever winning. You don't hear about those people very often. They live lives of quiet desperation. They never end up being in the right place at the right time. Yet our culture encourages the "get rich quick" mentality because we make such a big deal about it when it happens. That is unfortunate.
For the vast majority of successful people, accomplishment comes one day at a time, little by little, day after day, month after month, year after year. That is the guaranteed way to success. It is the result of making a decision to abandon the harmful habits and replace them with the habits of success and accomplishment.
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I
f you were just one step away from reaching your goal, would you take that step? How do you know, right now, that you're not?What a shame it would be to stop making the effort, when just a little bit more would make it all worthwhile. What a shame it would be to have taken all those steps, only to miss the very last one.
The next step you take may very well be the one that makes all the others count. You owe it to yourself, and the efforts you've made, to keep going.
No, the next step may not get you there. Yet what about the one after that? If you keep moving ahead, a little at a time, you will indeed arrive. When you take that final, triumphant step, you'll be so very thankful you persevered.
At some point success is just one step away. Keep going and you'll be there.
-- Ralph Marston
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A
tiny little improvement is infinitely better than doing nothing. For those tiny little improvements add up.A small word of encouragement is far better than no encouragement at all. Just imagine what it might mean to someone.
Today you have the opportunity to make the world a better place. Much more likely than not, that opportunity will come in the form of something seemingly insignificant.
Yet though it may seem unimportant at the time, though no one may notice, a small positive act can have a big positive impact. Because it can create a positive momentum.
Even the small achievements are achievements. Even the smallest step in the direction of your goal will bring you closer to that goal, much closer than if you had done nothing.
When you're able to take giant strides, by all means do so. When you're not, then take whatever step you can, make whatever improvement you can, offer whatever kindness you can.
The positive momentum you establish and maintain will make more of a difference than you might imagine. Even the smallest step counts in a big way.
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T
oday is now here. And with it has come the opportunity for you to move in the direction you choose.If you have been knocked off your feet, today is the day to get back up and get going again. If you have made choices that led to disappointing results, today is the day you can change your direction.
If you have been holding a treasured dream in your heart, you can begin today to make that dream happen. If something has been holding you back, today is your chance to start moving beyond it.
All that you've done and all that you are, has now arrived at today. In this day there are opportunities that have been building for a lifetime.
You've learned what works and what does not, experienced pain, joy, sadness and fulfillment. Today you know, better than ever before, just which way to go.
So breathe deeply, feel the fresh air of real meaning and true purpose as it fills your spirit. And make today the best day yet.
-- Ralph Marston
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Goals and dreams
Don't let them steal your dream
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It feels lousy to be disappointed, whether it is by other people, by circumstances, or by your own mistakes. And yet, in each disappointment there is also opportunity.
When a disappointment comes, acknowledge it and feel it for what it is. Then quickly step away from it and take a more objective look.
You'll discover that in the larger context of your life, that disappointment can have positive value. Though one door has been closed to you, many more have just been opened.
From each disappointment you can gain knowledge, motivation, perspective and a more clearly defined purpose. From each disappointment, you can learn much about life and about yourself, much that will help you move on ahead.
When life lets you down, there is value to be found in that disappointment. Quickly get back up and begin to live that value.
When you go forward, you will occasionally stumble. And when you choose to positively recover from those stumbles, you'll move more quickly ahead.
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When the reason why is powerful enough, you can find the strength necessary to get the job done. When the reason why is clear enough, you can develop the discipline required to reach the goal.
When the reason why is meaningful enough, you will gain access to the resources you need to make it happen. When the reason why is compelling enough, you will have the persistence needed to see it through.
Whatever you undertake, it is essential to understand and connect to the reason why you're doing it. With a strong enough and meaningful enough reason why, you will find a way there.
Though the obstacles may seem overwhelming, a compelling reason why will motivate you to get past them. Though the challenges may be enormous, a clear reason why will bring you the encouragement necessary to work through them.
Before you begin, ask yourself why. When the going gets rough, remind yourself why.
Know, understand, and connect to a meaningful reason why. And you'll find a way to get it done.
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The biggest successes come to those who are not afraid to fail. When you can accept and live with the possibility of failure, then you're ready to go forward into the realm of success.
Failure is failure only when you let it stop you. Yet when you fear failure, it will stop you even before you ever start.
Instead, simply accept the possibility of failure and go on ahead anyway. You may well have some setbacks, but you'll also have the ability to deal with them as they come along.
Each difficulty you encounter along the way will, after you get beyond it, eventually add value to whatever you're doing. Each so-called failure is only temporary when you are committed to reaching the goal.
Any effort that produces real value will also have some risk. To arrive at the value you must live through the risk.
Where there's a possibility of failure, there is also the real opportunity for success. The more you can accept the possibility of failure, the more success you will achieve.
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Give yourself time to succeed. Patience and persistence make almost anything possible. The only way you can fail to reach your goal, is to stop before you get there.
If you're not there yet, keep going. What a waste it would be to stop now. Starting over will take even longer. Keep going. Success is just a single step away from failure. Get yourself to the point where you can take that final, single step and then you're there.
Time will come and it will go, no matter what you do. Time will bring you to your goals, if you choose to make the most of it. Take the time to succeed. Make it work for you. Persist. You're on your way. Keep going and you'll get there.
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Are YOU?
When the going gets rough, and it seems like you just cannot take any more, remember
You can take it, you can make it, and you can do it.
All it ever takes is one step. One step in the direction of your goal.
One step away from your troubles. Just one step. And then after that step, another.
Anyone can take one step. You can take one step, right now.
You won't do it all in one day. It will take time. But you can do it. You can get anywhere you want to go,
by just moving toward it every chance you get. Little steps, one after another, will get you there.
Don't waste your time figuring out how to make big leaps. Just keep taking the small steps --
they'll get you there more reliably and probably quicker.
Once you take that first step, and commit to taking the rest, things change.
Momentum is suddenly on your side. What one step can you take right now,
that will lead you toward the life you want?
What one small thing can you do?
Do it now. And then, immediately look for the next step.
Keep going until you're there.
I’m looking for the next step.
AreYou?