Don't forget to get started

Too many of us never get started because we keep waiting for the perfect moment.

I used to be a so called "perfectionist" - someone who always wanted to make things perfect before showing them to anybody. That way I had plenty of excuses to never really get started and consequently nothing much happened in form of results even though I worked sooo hard.You can not be any more stupid than that, I promise you!

Because of that I had little personal growth, struggled along and was not too successful in my early business adventures.

Even thou I had a lot of ideas, I never really moved into true action. That way I couldn't fail but I also could not learn much. For quite a while I did not understand that I was not moving forward.

Since I've realized and accepted that my perfection was holding me back my whole life has changed.

Let me give you a tip if you desire more freedom and momentum in your life.

Make your goals smaller.

Do not look at Mount Everest from the valley or do not always focus on the big goals only. Better to focus on each phase of your goal and then celebrate each small victory. Take it step by step.

Nobody was on the top overnight even though some of the Internet success stories might suggest that. Any great athlete be it Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, or Michael Schumacher will tell you that big success comes through a lot of small wins added up.

But you need to get the engine started in life.

Take one new action today even if it seems tough to do, but you know you need
to do it. And take another new action tomorrow. Step by step will truly get you the desired results.

To your success

Barbara Hofmeister

www.trainingvisions.com

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© Copyright 2007, TrainingVisions. All rights reserved.

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Negative Self-Talk

Negavite Self-Talk - Most of the time we are not even aware that we are doing it.

Throughout the course of normal conversation, many of us use negative self-talk. While planning our goals and dreams we stop ourselves from even starting by saying things like “I can’t...” “I’m not good enough,” or “I could never do this” This and the subtle little things that we say while on conversational autopilot that eat away at our self-confidence.

How many times have you heard someone say things like "that was dumb of me", "typical of me to put my foot in it", "I am so stupid" etc. My mother says that all the time when things don't work quite the way she wants them to. She does not even realize she is calling herself stupid. I keep telling her not to do it but she thinks it is not important. Fact is her confidence is very low and that is not surprising.

Sometimes the negative comments are disguised as humor. “I’m just a country pumpkin,” “Oh well, what do you expect from a dumb blonde,” or “I think my mom dropped me one too many times as a baby!” The fact that anyone should feel a need to make excuses for themselves means that they have low self-confidence.

It is a subtle and difficult pattern to break. Most people do it without noticing that they are even doing it. It is said with the same automatic reponse as the “Fine, thanks” that always follows a “How are you?”

To get rid of it I recommend that you ask someone to help you. For example, in the Toastmaster Clubs you will be told when you have used fillers like Um, Ah, soooooo, or ya’ know. Words that are not necessary to bring your content across but that you use to fill the gaps when you are nervous. We do not know we are doing it until someone points it out to us. After awhile, the speakers begin to hear these fillers themselves and stop using them. It will work similar with your negative self-talk.

It's simple but it's not easy. Offer to help a friend to overcome their automated negative comments by playing the same game with them. If they are guilty of saying a particular derogatory statement repeatedly, then offer to help them to break the pattern. If you can admit to yourself that you are one of those people who say negative things about yourself without even really thinking about it, then ask someone to help you to stop. You would be amazed at how quickly you can stop the behavior if someone will just make you take notice. Self-awareness is the key to ending negative self-talk.

In case you are too embarrassed to ask for help, or you do not have anyone that you would trust enough to help you, you will have to make a huge effort to become more aware of the words you speak to yourself or during casual conversation. It is much more difficult, but still do-able. Imagine that the negative statements are cuss words. You would not want to throw those kinds of words out around your boss would you? You would not want to use them around children would you? You would not use them around your grandma would you? Attach the same ‘No way!’ attitude to those negative self-talk statements. Start really listening to yourself. There is really no need to beat yourself up when you catch yourself rattling off these statements, just take notice and make a promise to yourself that you will stop. Keep noticing, until you do stop.

Happy talking

Barbara Hofmeister

www.trainingvisions.com

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You can do it!

Last Friday I was on a local TV show called "La vida sana" (the healthy life). Without ever having spoken to the other guests we all talked about the same thing - the importance of visualization and belief.

Some wise man said "What the human mind can conceive it can achieve." and that is really true. The only thing that is holding us back is our belief system.

If we believe we can do it, we will attempt it. But if we think it is "impossible" we will not even try.

While I was typing this a friend asked me if I want to join him on his expedition to Mount Everest. NO WAY! was my immediate answer but had he asked me to sail around the world with him I would gladly have accepted that challenge. Different strokes for different folkes, right?
But both things would be possible if I put my mind (and my body) behind it, don't you think?

My dream is to become a famous seminar speaker and bit by bit I am getting there.

What is your dream?
The one you have been hiding, maybe even from yourself!

Start sharing it with those around you. Making it public makes it more of a commitment and you are likely to be reminded should you stray of your path.

Making my dream public was not easy for me. I felt stupid wanting to be famous but as I want to help change the educational system into something more practical and student orientated I need a lot of cloud and fame gives you cloud, doesn't it?

Good excuse but why would I need an excuse? Because it sounds conceited to want to be famous. Who says?... Get the trend?

Don't let anybody, including yourself, steal your dreams!!!

You deserve a fulfilled, happy and abundant life and it is up to you to get it.
To be or not to be - the Choice is YOURS!
Today and any other day of your life!

Be courageous and go for it!
Barbara
http://www.trainingvisions.com

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© Copyright 2007, TrainingVisions. All rights reserved.

PS. You may share this article with your friends and associates as long as you keep it exactly as it is with the signature intact.