Powerful Ideas for an Extraordinary Life

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161

Each day, do two things that you do not like doing. This may be the preparation

of a report you have been putting off or shining your shoes. It does not matter

how small the task, just do it! Soon these chores will not seem so bad, your

personal power will increase and your productivity will soar. Try it because

this is an age-old technique for building strength of character.

 

162

True happiness comes from only one thing: achievement of goals, whether they are

personal, professional or otherwise. You are happiest when you feel you are

growing. When you feel that you are contributing and advancing in the direction

of your dreams, you will notice that you have boundless energy and vitality.

Time spent on activities which offer little reward aside from a fleeting feeling

of relaxation (television watching is the best example), is time lost forever.

Relaxation is essential but chose the most effective means of renewal and spend

your time in productive pursuits that will slowly move you along the path of

accomplishment. Happiness comes from doing - not sleeping.

 

163

Napoleon III of France had a special ability to remember the names of all those

he met. His secret was to say " so sorry, I missed your name " after being

introduced to a new person. This would cause the name to be repeated and

reinforced within his memory. If the name was difficult, he would ask for the

proper spelling.

 

164

The sages of China have held a basic life philosophy for thousands of years:

develop an indomitable spirit along with courtesy and integrity. The repetition

of these three traits will make you an exceptionally powerful individual

respected by all. Exert your effort and personal influence to attain these

qualities.

 

165

A valuable technique for defeating negative and self-limiting thoughts that can

hamper you from attaining peak performance is the mental interrupt device. When

a negative thought enters your consciousness, first you must become aware of it

and have a strong desire to remove it for good. To do this, interrupt the

negative train of thought by doing something to break and banish the

self-limiting pattern. When the bad thought enters, you may pinch yourself and

say, " I am strong and weak thoughts are gone " , or you may shout out loud or do

anything that will divert your attention and remove the negative focus. By

practicing this technique, you will see a marked decrease in the negative

thoughts that most people have, paving the way to the mindset of a true winner.

 

166

Taking time from your busy work and family schedule to focus on personal growth

activities is essential and is never to be considered a waste. Taking one hour

from your hectic morning to watch kids playing in a nearby park or to take a

brisk walk might seem like a poor use of time to some. But by making more time

for life's simple pleasures and bringing more balance into your day, you will

make the remaining hours far more productive and effective. You cannot do good

unless you feel good. When you are serene, relaxed and enthusiastic you are also

more productive, creative and dynamic. This is something that has been proved

time and time again and yet we consistently get caught up in the apparent

immediacy of our routine and fail to see the forest for the trees.

 

167

Read more, learn more, laugh more and love more.

 

168

Pick five relationships that you desire to improve over the next six months.

Write out the names of these people and under each name detail why you want to

improve the relationship, how you plan to do so and in what time frame. This is

simply another facet of goal setting - the practice which will always yield

excellent results in any of life's fields. Be committed to being a better

parent, friend and citizen. Be creative in the steps you take to show your

appreciation and respect for your loved ones. Sending notes is fine but consider

unique and thoughtful measures ranging from a romantic picnic in the country

with your partner to an early morning fishing trip with an old friend.

 

169

Remember the power of prayer. Remember the power of kindness. Remember the

importance of love.

 

170

An excellent investment in your personal growth is the six CD series of Reverend

Norman Vincent Peale entitled " The Power of Positive Thinking " . Get it and

listen to it over and over. It is packed full of strategies and techniques that,

without fail, will ensure that you live a long, happy, productive and prosperous

life.

 

By Robin Sharma

 

to be continued...