It's Up To Us

Our Loving and Merciful God is truly wise and great!

He gave us the mind to think, to create, to innovate, to decide, and to choose for our life but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the eyes to see and appreciate the beauty of our world, our self and our fellow human being but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the ear to hear the music, the sounds of nature and the voice of our love ones, friends, neighbors, and co-workers but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the nose to smell the fragrance of the flowers, the aroma of foods from the kitchen and odorless smell of air but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the mouth to speak of encouragement, praises and support but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the heart to freely express our love, our emotions and our concerns to others but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the hands to use in writing down all our plans for the future to work for a living but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the feet to move forward to plant the seeds of our uniqueness and productivity in this world to stand firm for our self but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the power to sing praises, to brighten up our soul and make the world a little better place of gladness, joyfulness, happiness, and peacefulness but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the power to smile, to laugh, to make the world a little better place to live but it’s up to us if you we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us knowledge and wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good and bad!

He gave us equal time to do our activity under the sun but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the family, our parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, sweetheart, friends, neighbors, and co-workers but it’s up to us if we'll use them for good or bad!

He gave us the natural resources to supply all our needs but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us the Book, the Bible to strengthen up our faith and guidance in the way we should go but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

He gave us free hotline to communicate with Him but it’s up to us if we'll use it for good or bad!

About the Author:

Moises P. Reconalla is the School Guidance Counselor at North Davao College, Panabo City, Philippines.

All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright2009 by Moises P. Reconalla

17 RULES TO LIVE BY

From A Better Way to Live BY: OG MANDINO

1. Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play and you will finally be able to move forward toward the life that God intended for you...with grace, strength, courage and confidence.

2. Today, and every day, deliver more than you are getting paid to do. The victory of success will be half won when you learn the secret of putting out more than is expected in all that you do. Make yourself so valuable in your work that eventually you will become indispensable. Exercise your privilege to go the extra miles, and enjoy all the rewards you receive. You deserve them!

3. Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come.

4. Always reward your long hours of labor and toil in the very best way, surrounded by your family. Nurture their love carefully, remembering that your children need models, not critics, and your own progress will hasten when you constantly strive to present your best side to your children. And even if you have failed at all else in the eyes of the world, if you have a loving family, you are a success.

5. Build this day on a foundation of pleasant thoughts. Never fret at any imperfections that you fear may impede your progress. Remind yourself, as often as necessary, that you are a creature of God and have the power to achieve any dream by lifting up your thoughts. You can fly when you decide that you can. Never consider defeat again. Let the vision in your heart be in your life's blueprint. Smile!

6. Let your actions always speak for you, but be forever on guard against the terrible traps of false pride and conceit that can halt your progress. The next time you are tempted to boast, just place your fist in a full pail of water, and when you remove it, the hole remaining will give you a correct measure of your importance.

7. Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success. Never again. There is a better way.

8. Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. This applies to play as well as work. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busywork. No more hiding from success. Leave time, leave space, to grow. Now. Now! Not tomorrow!

9. Live this day as if it will be your last. Remember that you will only find "tomorrow" on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday's defeats, and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it. Doomsday. All you have. Make it the best day of your year. The saddest words you can ever utter are, "If I had my life to live over again..." Take the baton, now. Run with it! This is your day!

10. Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they were going to be dead at midnight. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.

11. Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat of the moment. Banish tension and concern and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously.

12. Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.

13. Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter.

Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.

14. You will achieve your grand dream, a day at a time, so set goals for each day-not long and difficult projects, but chores that will take you, step by step, toward your rainbow. Write them down, if you must, but limit your list so that you won't have to drag today's undone matters into tomorrow. Remember that you cannot build your pyramid in twenty-four hours. Be patient. Never allow your day to become so cluttered that you neglect your most important goal-to do the best you can, enjoy this day and rest satisfied with what you have accomplished.

15. Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the faultfinding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealousy and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.

16. Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well through all the darkest valleys you must traverse. Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the mountaintop. So will you learn things in adversity that you would never have discovered without trouble? There is always a seed of good. Find it and prosper.

17. Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

--- From A Better Way to Live by Og Mandino

The ABCDE Method for Setting Priorities

Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things. Your ability to plan and organize your work, in advance, so you are always working on your highest value tasks determines your success as much as any other factor.

The ABCDE Method for Priorities…
The process of setting short-term priorities begins with a pad of paper and a pen. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by too many things to do and too little time in which to do them, sit down, take a deep breath, and list all those tasks you need to accomplish. Although there is never enough time to do everything, there is always enough time to do the most important things, and to stay with them until they are done right.

Setting Better Priorities…
The best method for setting priorities on your list, once you have determined your major goals or objectives, is the A-B-C-D-E method. You place one of those letters in the margin before each of the tasks on your list before you begin.

“A” stands for “very important;” something you must do. There can be serious negative consequences if you don’t do it.

“B” stands for “important;” something you should do. This is not as important as your ‘A’ tasks. There are only minor negative consequences if it is not completed.

“C” stands for things that are “nice to do;” but which are not as important as ‘A’ or ‘B,’ tasks. There are no negative consequences for not completing it.

“D” stands for “delegate.” You can assign this task to someone else who can do the job instead of you.

“E” stands for “eliminate, whenever possible.” You should eliminate every single activity you possibly can, to free up your time.

When you use the A-B-C-D-E method, you can very easily sort out what is important and unimportant. This then will focus your time and attention on those items on your list that are most essential for you to do.

Just Say No…
Once you can clearly determine the one or two things that you should be doing, above all others, just say no to all diversions and distractions and focus single-mindedly on accomplishing those priorities.

Much of the stress that you experience in your work life comes from working on low-priority tasks. The amazing discovery is that as soon as you start working on your highest-value activity, all your stress disappears. You feel a continuous stream of energy and enthusiasm.

As you work toward the completion of something that is really important, you feel an increased sense of personal value and inner satisfaction. You experience a sensation of self-mastery and self-control. You feel calm, confident and capable.

Action Exercises:

Here are three ideas that you can use, every day, to help you set priorities and to keep you working at your best:

First, take the time to be clear about your goals and objectives so that the priorities you set are moving you in the direction of something that is of real value to you.

Second, remember that what counts is not the amount of time that you put in overall; rather, it’s the amount of time that you spend working on high-priority tasks.

Third, understand that the most important factor in setting priorities is your ability to make wise choices. You are always free to choose to engage in one activity or another.

Resolve today to set clear priorities in every area of your life, and always choose the activities that will assure you the greatest health, happiness and prosperity in the long term.

Brian Tracy
______________

Brian Tracy is one of the world’s leading authorities on personal and business success.

You Too, Can Succeed!

We are now living in the information age. Every details and information’s we need to improve our life, to restore our magnificence are now available in the internet, in the library and in the bookstore. So, there are no reasons and alibis that we cannot help our self to rise above the ashes!

If you are really sincere to succeed, to reach your dreams and become the ideal person you intend to become, this is the right time to think for a change, make a proper action and seize the opportunity to improve your life. Never wait for tomorrow or next day in what you can do today. For tomorrow my friend, is but a dream and today is the salutation to the dawn!

In my readings, I learned and discovered that all great men in the pages of history were a man of action. They have a firm resolution, an iron will to make their dreams a reality. They believed in their powers. They create their own opportunity rather than to find it in other places and they never make excuses from their mistakes and failures instead they learned, laughed from it and make a glorious one!

Kitto, the poor, deaf pauper, who made shoes in the alms house, and who became the greatest Biblical scholars, wrote in his journal, on the threshold of manhood: “I am not myself a believer in impossibilities. I think that all the fine stories about natural ability, etc., are mere rigmarole, and that every man may according to his opportunities and industry, render himself almost anything he wishes to become.”

So, if you’re seriously enough to succeed in life and intend to becoming the person you really want to become, beginning today, make a firm resolution to work hard on it. Remember the world always stands aside for the determined individual. The world will makes a way, even through seeming impossibilities. That is why Goethe declares that “he who has a firm will mould the world to himself.”

Below are just simple guidelines that can guide and help you to succeed in life.

1. Think always on the ideal person you intend to become. Hold it in your mind and work hard on it until you become as what you think!

2. Always believe in your powers. Avoid belittle yourself. Focus always on your strengths rather than on your weaknesses.

3. Avoid socializing to a person with a pessimistic attitude and character. An individual who is only fun of talking, bragging on himself and always finding faults on others are the person can only ruin your visions and dreams in life as well as can corrupt your good character.

4. Nurture your character. Character is your only valuable assets that can help to protect your reputation from the sharp tongue of the backbiter, wicked individual.

5. Read good books. Books are wise, patient mentors and excellent professors that can assess and teach you to become the master among men, yourself!

Finally remember my friend, You Too, Can Succeed!


Good luck to your journey in life!


Moises P. Reconalla
________________


About the Author:

Moises P. Reconalla is the School Guidance Counselor at North Davao College, Panabo City, Philippines.

All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright 2008 by Moises P. Reconalla

Be an Embodiment of the Person You’d Like to Be

Being starts with simply being that which you would like to become. Once you mediate and hold the belief within yourself that you are what you would like to be, you start becoming that very thing, from the inside out!

Embodying what you would like to become transforms you. You already hold the traits within you that you would like to become.

In fact, it wouldn’t be possible to envision this new “person” you would like to be if you weren’t actually able to achieve that very vision. Allow yourself to feel it. And allow yourself to believe it.

Action Step:

Sit down for a few minutes in the week ahead and make a list of everything you would like to be and do. Then, over the next few days, for each item on your list, take a few minutes and sit with each thought.

Meditate on how you would feel being that person in that very place, having turned that vision into reality. Don’t let any negative thought patterns or incredulous talk (i.e. “you can’t possibly be that!”) force you to back down from envisioning this person you want to be. Just be still and let that thought warm you.

As I always say, what warms you the most is what you most resonate with. Focus on what you resonate with. Then, as you hone in on that person you wish to be, ask yourself what practice or trait you can consciously incorporate that further embodies this “future person” into your reality today.

Yours in Success,
Mark Victor Hansen
_____________
Mark Victor Hansen is the co-author of the wildly successful Chicken Soup For The Soul Be an Embodiment of the Person Youd Like to Be By Mark Victor Hansen series of books. For over 30 years, Mark Victor Hansen has focused solely on helping people in all walks of life reshape their personal vision of what’s possible for themselves. Visit the Mark Victor Hansen website.

Seven Steps To Achieving Your Dream

“Vision is the spectacular that inspires us to carry out the mundane.” — Chris Widener

Can achievement be broken down into steps? Well, it isn’t always that clean and easy, but I do know that those who achieve great things usually go through much of the same process, with many of the items listed below as part of that process.

So if you have been struggling with achievement, look through the following and internalize the thoughts presented. Then begin to apply them. You will be on the road to achieving your dream!

1. Dream it - Everything begins in the heart and mind. Every great achievement began in the mind of one person. They dared to dream, to believe that it was possible.

Take some time to allow yourself to ask “What if?” Think big. Don’t let negative thinking discourage you. You want to be a “dreamer.”

Dream of the possibilities for yourself, your family, and for others. If you had a dream that you let grow cold, re-ignite the dream! Fan the flames. Life is too short to let it go.

2. Believe it - Yes, your dream needs to be big. It needs to be something that is seemingly beyond your capabilities. But it also must be believable.

You must be able to say that if certain things take place, if others help, if you work hard enough, though it is a big dream, it can still be done. Good example: A person with no college education can dream that he will build a 50 million-dollar a year company. That is big, but believable.

Bad example: That a 90 year-old woman with arthritis will someday run a marathon in under 3 hours. It is big alright, but also impossible. She should instead focus on building a 50 million-dollar a year business! And she better get a move on!

3. See it - The great achievers have a habit. They “see” things. They picture themselves walking around their CEO office in their new 25 million-dollar corporate headquarters, even while they are sitting on a folding chair in their garage “headquarters.”

Great free-throw shooters in the NBA picture the ball going through the basket. PGA golfers picture the ball going straight down the fairway. World-class speakers picture themselves speaking with energy and emotion.

All of this grooms the mind to control the body to carry out the dream.

4. Tell it - One reason many dreams never go anywhere is because the dreamer keeps it all to himself. It is a quiet dream that only lives inside of his mind. The one who wants to achieve their dream must tell that dream to many people.

One reason: As we continually say it, we begin to believe it more and more. If we are talking about it then it must be possible. Another reason: It holds us accountable.

When we have told others, it spurs us on to actually do it so we don’t look foolish.

5. Plan it - Every dream must take the form of a plan. The old saying that you “get what you plan for” is so true. Your dream won’t just happen.

You need to sit down, on a regular basis, and plan out your strategy for achieving the dream. Think through all of the details.

Break the whole plan down into small, workable parts. Then set a time frame for accomplishing each task on your “dream plan.”

6. Work it - Boy, wouldn’t life be grand if we could quit before this one! Unfortunately the successful are usually the hardest workers. While the rest of the world is sitting on their couch watching re-runs of Gilligan’s Island, achievers are working on their goal – achieving their dream.

I have an equation that I work with: Your short-term tasks, multiplied by time, equal your long-term accomplishments. If you work on it each day, eventually you will achieve your dream. War and Peace was written, in longhand, page by page.

7. Enjoy it - When you have reached your goal and you are living your dream, be sure to enjoy it. In fact, enjoy the trip too. Give yourself some rewards along the way.

Give yourself a huge reward when you get there. Help others enjoy it. Be gracious and generous. Use your dream to better others. Then go back to number 1. And dream a little bigger this time!

Chris Widener
____________
Chris Widener is an internationally recognized speaker, and best-selling author. Visit his website to receive his newsletter as well as learn about the inspiring work he does helping others to achieve their full potential!

My 14 Vows of Success

Dear Lord,

Thank you! Today you wake up my mind from a deep sleep. Thank you for reminding me that today is the preparation of my future success. Thank you for helping me to realize that life is full of hardships, pains, sorrows, and trials. The only way to beat these odds is to face and take them as challenges of life and continue on improving myself.

Therefore, beginning today dear Lord, I will not waste my time with idleness, laziness, cowardliness, and timidity. Instead, I will use it as an opportunity for the improvement of my being.

Beginning today, I will take charge of my mind. I've learned from my life experiences that if I think a negative, the result is always a negative. But if I think a positive, the result is always a positive.

Beginning today, I will take charge of my mouth. I'll be careful and tactful in my words when I am engaging in conversation with my beloved fellow human being. I know that life and death is in the power of the tongue.

Beginning today, I will take good care of my health for it is my only investment and tool to reach my goals and dreams in life.

Beginning today, I will take charge of my emotions. Everyday, I will motivate myself to act as an educated and emotionally mature individual. If it happens that I encounter insult and disappointment, I will just remind myself that this too shall pass!

Beginning today, I will put the others first and serve them honestly with love and care for these are my only chances to share the love, kindness and blessings from above.

Beginning today, I will teach myself to be compassionate, humble, lovable, and open-minded in dealing with people. I've learned from the counsels and writings of the great men of the ages that being a compassionate, humble, lovable, and open-minded person is the best cure in healing of the old wounds of the broken-hearted.

By being this way, I can help to cast out the doubts, feeling of inferiority and hatred in their hearts and minds. It can also be the best technique in winning the hearts of the wicked men and eventually to become his friend.

Beginning today, I will teach myself the importance of hard work, honesty, sincerity, time management, frugality, initiative, planning, creativeness, determination, patience, persistence, enthusiasm, cooperation, extra mile, faith, and trust in myself for these are the secrets of success in any field of work.

Beginning today, I will embrace all the hardships, pains, sorrows, and trials as challenges and stepping-stones for success. Trials are medicines, which my Loving God prescribed because I need them. He proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires. Therefore, let me trust His skill and eventually thank Him for His prescription.

Beginning today, I will nurture my character for my character is the only shield to protect and cover my reputation against the trap and honey words of wicked individuals.

Beginning today, I will improve myself. I will encourage and teach myself the importance of self-respect and self-discipline for these are the foundations of success.

Beginning today, I will treasure the importance of reading good books. Books are the best, wise, patient mentors, and professors of all/any colleges and universities in the world. Books are the best source of knowledge and wisdom. Doing this can help me to become more discerning, a deeper individual and a great thinker.

Beginning today, I will practice to have my own originality. Today is my only chance that I can prove and show to the world that I am a unique individual, created by the loving hands of the Almighty God, who has a mission and vision to fulfill - to plant the seeds of my uniqueness and productivity in this land!

Beginning today, I will remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as defeat, failure, improvable, impossible, hopeless, and retreat from these for they are the words and phrases of fools and losers.

Finally, beginning today, I will make my Loving God a partner in every plan and decision of life. With Him, I can do all things that others think and see as impossible!

Now, with these precious short 14 vows of success in my hands, if I just diligently follow each precept daily and put it in my heart and mind, surely, I'll be the most happiest and successful person in the future.

Moises P. Reconalla
________________

About the Author:

Moises P. Reconalla is the School Guidance Counselor at North Davao College, Panabo City, Philippines.

All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright 2007-2008 by Moises P. Reconalla

Seven Character Traits of Successful People

1.They are hard working. There is no such thing as easy money. Success takes hard work and people who are willing to do it.

2.They are honest. Those who are successful long-term are the honest ones. Dishonest people may get the first sale, but honest people will get all the rest!

3.They persevere. How many success stories will go untold because they never happened? And all because someone quit. Successful people outlast everybody else.

4.They are friendly. Have you noticed that most successful people are friendly and people oriented? This endears them to others and enables them to lead others to accomplish the task.

5.They are lifelong learners. Successful people are people who stretch themselves and grow continually, learning from all areas of life, including from their mistakes.

6.They over-deliver. The old statement of under-promise and over- deliver became famous because it made a lot of people successful, including the richest man in the world—Bill Gates.

7.They seek solutions in the face of problems. Problems are opportunities to do the impossible, not just complain. Successful people are the ones who find solutions.

Chris Widener
____________
Chris Widener is an internationally recognized speaker, and best-selling author. Visit his website to receive his newsletter as well as learn about the inspiring work he does helping others to achieve their full potential!

Your Achievement Ezine, # 148
YourSuccessStore.com

Dare Mighty Things

Theodore Roosevelt
26th President of the U.S. and
winner of 1906 Nobel Peace Prize


In the battle of life, it is not the critic who counts; nor the one who points out how the strong person stumbled, or where the doer of a deed could have done better.

The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends oneself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those timid spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

Rise Above The Ashes

If you are now living in the lowest status of life and a life that have always a storm, great disappointment and failures, don't be discourage and worry my friend, I tell you, you can rise! Rise Above the Ashes!

Yes, you can rise above the ashes! For you are destined to be a conqueror of this world. The Loving God gave you the power of choice to choose and to live an ideal life that you want to be. Therefore, stop wasting your time living in a mediocre life. Learn to stand once again and prove to the world that you are a dare to fail individual. That cannot be easily sway and cannot be easily discourage by the challenges of life.

Beginning today, tag yourself with a higher price. Dream a big dream. Think a big plan for your life and make a firm resolution to dare mighty things to make your plan into reality.

To achieve your dreams, always work hard with definite purpose and don't ever think of backsliding because the world cannot be won with a doubtful spirit.

So, move on and don't ever give up! Always motivate your mind to have faith and believe in yourself. Remember, the larger your faith, the smaller your fears. The great your trust, the lesser your doubts. The stronger your beliefs, the weaker your worries. Therefore, keep your faith and believe in yourself for it will guide, help and bring you to the door of success!

If the time comes spark to tempt you to give up and back to the life of mediocrity, remind yourself with these words... My Loving God balances my life by giving me enough blessings to keep me happy. Enough failures, to keep me humble. Enough trials, to keep me strong in the challenges of life. Therefore, I will face these tests of life with an open-mind, enthusiasm, persistence, and determination that once again, I can rise! Rise Above the Ashes!

Finally, remember my friend, that the Loving God helps those who help themselves!

Wish you many blessings to come and God bless!

Moises P. Reconalla

About the Author:

Moises P. Reconalla is the School Guidance Counselor at North Davao College, Panabo City, Philippines.

All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright 2007 by Moises Padin Reconalla

NOTE: You're free to republish this article on your website, in your newsletter, in your e-book or in other publications provided that the article is reproduced in its entirety, including the author information.

Article Source: Reconalla, Moises. (2007, November 13). Rise Above the Ashes!. EzineArticles. Retrieved November 29, 2007, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Rise-Above-the-Ashes!&id=828121

30 Qualities for Success

Honesty, Humor, Friendliness, Confidence,
Integrity, Persistence, Humility, Goal Setter,
Decisive, Hard Worker, Learner,
Positive Mental Attitude, Compassionate,
Disciplined, Dedicated, Faithful,
Dependable, Knowledgeable, Communicator,
Loving, Enthusiastic, Motivated, Patient,
Loyal, Organized, Good Listener,
Empathetic, Self-Respect,
Common Sense, and Character.

Go ahead now.
Look yourself in the mirror
and claim these qualities!
Do it for several weeks
and you’ll notice a change in your life.



ZIG ZIGLAR Newsletter
14 June 2000, Volume II, Number 2
www.zigziglar.com

I Dream To Become A Great Man

I was born as a poor boy and grew up in the street without the care, guidance and supervision of my beloved parents. I have experienced an empty stomach, being almost naked, existing without permanent shelter and without proper education.

As a young man, with deprived and some sad experiences of life, I started to think of innovation and dream for my future. I dream to become famous, I dream to become a great man!

Yes, I to dream to become a great man, a great man with power and authority; a great man like Abraham Lincoln, Brian Tracy, Benjamin Franklin, Dave Higgins, John Maxwell, Manuel Quezon, Martin Luther King Jr., Og Mandino, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

Yes, I dream to become a great man because I want to have a change and improvement, a change and improvement to my beloved country, a change and improvement to the lives of the needy.

I thought to become a great man was to have power and authority, power and authority over the lives of the people, power and authority to become their lord and master.

But now I realize that to become a great man, it is not to become the lord of their lives, instead the lord of good example.

I also realized that to become a great man it is not to become the master of their lives, instead a master of change in helping to improve their way of living.

Now, with these precious thoughts that are still fresh in my mind, I am thankful to my beloved Creator for helping me to realize this.

Another thing is that to become a great man, is to change and improve first myself. Not be a self-centered, lord and master to others, instead a lord and master of my own self.

I realize that by changing my own self, I can gradually change my own destiny. I realize that by changing my own self, I can gradually brighten up my future.

Lo! Today I will live as if it is my last. I will improve my character, my skills, my talents and myself. I will serve and help others with love and care and I will become great!

Yes, I will become a great man if I will think about the good of others before myself. For only in serving, helping, loving, and sharing the blessings from Above, I can finally win the hearts, favors and support from my beloved human being. And my name will be hailed forever in the pyramid and pages of history!

--- Copyright © 2007 Moises P. Reconalla

Reaping A Multiple Reward

For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards. That’s one of life’s great arrangements. In fact, it’s an extension of the Biblical law that says that if you sow well, you will reap well.

Here’s a unique part of the Law of Sowing and Reaping. Not only does it suggest that we’ll all reap what we’ve sown, it also suggests that we’ll reap much more. Life is full of laws that both govern and explain behaviors, but this may well be the major law we need to understand: for every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards.

What a concept! If you render unique service, your reward will be multiplied. If you’re fair and honest and patient with others, your reward will be multiplied. If you give more than you expect to receive, your reward is more than you expect. But remember: the key word here, as you might well imagine, is discipline.

Everything of value requires care, attention, and discipline. Our thoughts require discipline. We must consistently determine our inner boundaries and our codes of conduct, or our thoughts will be confused. And if our thoughts are confused, we will become hopelessly lost in the maze of life. Confused thoughts produce confused results.

Remember the law: "For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards." Learn the discipline of writing a card or a letter to a friend. Learn the discipline of paying your bills on time, arriving to appointments on time, or using your time more effectively. Learn the discipline of paying attention, or paying your taxes or paying yourself. Learn the discipline of having regular meetings with your associates, or your spouse, or your child, or your parent. Learn the discipline of learning all you can learn, of teaching all you can teach, of reading all you can read.

For each discipline, multiple rewards. For each book, new knowledge. For each success, new ambition. For each challenge, new understanding. For each failure, new determination. Life is like that. Even the bad experiences of life provide their own special contribution. But a word of caution here for those who neglect the need for care and attention to life’s disciplines: everything has its price. Everything affects everything else. Neglect discipline, and there will be a price to pay. All things of value can be taken for granted with the passing of time.

That’s what we call the Law of Familiarity. Without the discipline of paying constant, daily attention, we take things for granted. Be serious. Life’s not a practice session.

If you’re often inclined to toss your clothes onto the chair rather than hanging them in the closet, be careful. It could suggest a lack of discipline. And remember, a lack of discipline in the small areas of life can cost you heavily in the more important areas of life. You cannot clean up your company until you learn the discipline of cleaning your own garage. You cannot be impatient with your children and be patient with your distributors or your employees. You cannot inspire others to sell more when that goal is inconsistent with your own conduct. You cannot admonish others to read good books when you don’t have a library card.

Think about your life at this moment. What areas need attention right now? Perhaps you’ve had a disagreement with someone you love or someone who loves you, and your anger won’t allow you to speak to that person. Wouldn’t this be an ideal time to examine your need for a new discipline? Perhaps you’re on the brink of giving up, or starting over, or starting out. And the only missing ingredient to your incredible success story in the future is a new and self-imposed discipline that will make you try harder and work more intensely than you ever thought you could.

The most valuable form of discipline is the one that you impose upon yourself. Don’t wait for things to deteriorate so drastically that someone else must impose discipline in your life. Wouldn’t that be tragic? How could you possibly explain the fact that someone else thought more of you than you thought of yourself? That they forced you to get up early and get out into the marketplace when you would have been content to let success go to someone else who cared more about themselves.

Your life, my life, the life of each one of us is going to serve as either a warning or an example. A warning of the consequences of neglect, self-pity, lack of direction and ambition…or an example of talent put to use, of discipline self-imposed, and of objectives clearly perceived and intensely pursued.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

© 2000 Jim Rohn International
All rights reserved worldwide.
Reproduced with permission
from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine:
subscribe at: www.jimrohn.com

Always Be True To Yourself

Always be true to yourself!

Never attempt to delete those words in your heart and mind.
For they are a valuable treasure, that can aid and lead you
To understand who you are.

Always be true to yourself!

Never be afraid to accept who you are.
Think positively and believe in yourself
So you can be able to accept and appreciate who you are.

Always bear in mind you are a unique individual.
Created by the loving hands of the Almighty God.
He created you with special purpose, to plant and spread seeds
Of your uniqueness and productivity in this land.

Always be true to yourself!

Never be discouraged or afraid of negative comments or feedback.
Welcome them with an open-mind, for these can also help and guide you
To become a well-grown individual.

If you have an enemy, remember never to hate him.
When you hate him, you give him power over you.
Power over your thinking, your sleep, your health and happiness.
Your hatred is not hurting him at all;
It only turns your days and nights into a hellish turmoil.

Always be true to yourself!

Remember the best strategies to deal an enemy -
Prayer, love, forgiveness, humility, open-mindedness,
reconciliation, smile, tactfulness, and service.
Start now to apply those precepts in yourself,
So you can be able to win favor from God
And live at peace with your enemy.

As you travel in the games of life,
Always remember to think innovation of your being.
For that's the one and only key to excel in this land.
Remember that a gifted man will stand before kings,
A simple man will serve the skilled and kings!

Therefore, always be true to yourself!

Remember God love you so much!
He cares and believes in you!
That's why,

ALWAYS BE TRUE TO YOURSELF! 

About the Author:

Moises P. Reconalla is the Guidance Counselor at North Davao Colleges, Panabo City, Philippines.
All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright 2007 by Moises P. Reconalla

NOTE: You're free to republish this article on your website, in your newsletter, in your e-book or in other publications provided that the article is reproduced in its entirety, including the author information.

Change Begins with Choice

---

Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life—If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life—and it all begins with your very own power of choice.

To Your Success,

Jim Rohn

About the Author

Jim Rohn is a popular American motivational and business coach that has been giving seminars to large companies and indivuals for more than 40 years. He is a published author of many books that cover leadership, business skills, self development, dealing with customers, and motivation.

Jim Rohn simply cannot be described nor defined. Instead, he must be experienced. The remarkable combination of his personal style and his message does something to people that cannot be captured in a text description. The power that is behind his extraordinary effect on people is not found just in what he enables them to learn, but in what he makes them feel. Time spent with Jim Rohn, whether at a live seminar or through his audio and video programs, is an indescribable emotional journey that will expand your self-confidence, rekindle your determination to succeed and enrich your attitude - further intensifying your ambition to alter your life for the better.

Reproduced with permission
from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine:
subscribe at: http://www.jimrohn.com

I AM A TEACHER

I am a Teacher.

I was born the first moment that a question leaped from the mouth of a child.

I have been many people in many places.

I am Socrates exciting the youth of Athens to discover new ideas through the use of questions.

I am Anne Sullivan tapping out the secrets of the universe into the outstretched hand of Helen Keller.

I am Aesop and Hans Christian Andersen revealing truth through countless stories.

I am Marva Collins fighting for every child's right to an education.

I am Mary McCloud Bethune building a great college for my people, using orange crates for desks.

And I am Bel Kaufman struggling to go Up The Down Staircase.

The names of those who have practiced my profession ring like a hall of fame for humanity…Booker T. Washington, Buddha, Confucius, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Leo Buscaglia, Moses and Jesus.

I am also those whose names and faces have long been forgotten but whose lessons and character will always be remembered in the accomplishments of their students.

I have wept for joy at the weddings of former students, laughed with glee at the birth of their children and stood with head bowed in grief and confusion by graves dug too soon for bodies far too young.

Throughout the course of a day I have been called upon to be an actor, friend, nurse and doctor, coach, finder of lost articles, money lender, taxi driver, psychologist, substitute parent, salesman, politician and a keeper of the faith.

Despite the maps, charts, formulas, verbs, stories and books, I have really had nothing to teach, for my students really have only themselves to learn, and I know it takes the whole world to tell you who you are.

I am a paradox. I speak loudest when I listen the most. My greatest gifts are in what I am willing to appreciatively receive from my students.

Material wealth is not one of my goals, but I am a full-time treasure seeker in my quest for new opportunities for my students to use their talents and in my constant search for those talents that sometimes lie buried in self-defeat.

I am the most fortunate of all who labor.

A doctor is allowed to usher life into the world in one magic moment. I am allowed to see that life is reborn each day with new questions, ideas and friendships.

An architect knows that if he builds with care, his structure may stand for centuries. A teacher knows that if he builds with love and truth, what he builds will last forever.

I am a warrior, daily doing battle against peer pressure, negativity, fear, conformity, prejudice, ignorance and apathy. But I have great allies: Intelligence, Curiosity, Parental Support, Individuality, Creativity, Faith, Love and Laughter all rush to my banner with indomitable support.

And who do I have to thank for this wonderful life I am so fortunate to experience, but you the public, the parents. For you have done me the great honor to entrust to me your greatest contribution to eternity, your children.

And so I have a past that is rich in memories. I have a present that is challenging, adventurous and fun because I am allowed to spend my days with the future.

I am a teacher…and I thank God for it every day.

John W. Schlatter