Are you self-motivated, situation-motivated, or motivated by others? Here are a few posts about motivation you may have missed. Click the links to read the full messages.
“Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.”
“Inspiration usually comes during work, not before it.”
“Work for a cause, not for applause.”
ancient map for crossing the ocean, from Pinterest
Have you ever met a map-maker?
It’s a profession not likely to be in the top-ten career tracks at our universities!
If you were to meet one today, they would most likely be mapping the unchartered parts of our world, including the depths of the seas, or the planets and moons of our solar system and beyond.
What if all of us were actually map-makers at heart, somewhat untrained, but still able to explore and discover worlds within us?
What possible adventures and new or interesting territories might lie ahead if you put on your “explorer” hat?
What actions and efforts can you take to become your own Magellan, Columbus, or Captain Kirk to better map out your inner world?
Image from Flickr by Rafael Gonzalez
Virtually every individual I have coached over the past 25 years has included financial security as one of their top goals. In most cases, helping them become more productive and successful and increasing their income was a top priority.
Clients often engage financial advisors and consultants to assist their efforts. Those efforts often include allocation and saving strategies for such things as education, retirement, special purchases, and other life events.
Surprisingly, only a modest number of these folks ever express a full and complete sense of security, even if their savings and investments would extend many years beyond their current life expectancy.
What shifts of mental perspective would help you earn more and spend or need less, to help you realize the sense of security and inner peace you desire?
Image from Flickr by joelleen
Who are your very closest and best friends? Take a moment to list them by name. You may even choose to look back to your school years, and the different cities or towns in which you have lived throughout your life.
Did you put yourself on the list?
If you didn’t, you are not alone.
For some reason, the majority of people who take on this exercise rarely include themselves.
What are the reasons for the omission?
Why do so many of us neglect, ignore, or simply not consider our relationship with ourselves of paramount importance?
How and in what ways can you befriend yourself far more, from this point forward?
Consider reversing the Golden Rule and do for yourself what you do for others, as a starting point.
Image from Flickr by Imanka
About 20 years ago I attended a year-long program called The Wisdom Course. One of our primary assignments was to write our autobiography. We were to include photographs from every age, if available, and document important people and life events from each year. This was done through our own recollection, as well as interviews with many of the people we identified.
I found it fascinating to see the impact I made on the people in my life, and the impact they had on my growth and development. Of particular interest was where and how I began developing my core values, personality, and character.
The most notable observation was that the unselfish and noble actions – my own and those of others – were the most memorable and enduring.
Consider doing your own biographical life review. Make particular note of the noble and unselfish actions taken by yourself and others along the way. How have these events shaped you to be the person you are today?
How much did you grow in 2017? Here are a few growth-related posts you may have missed. Click the link to read the full message.
“Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.”
“Everything you go through grows you.”
“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”
Image of Horseshoe Falls from Flickr by ihrivera
As part of my Personal Excellence core value exercise, I often ask my clients what inspires them. On many occasions, the answers nature and beauty, or natural beauty rises to the top of the list.
With this in mind, I often remember trips my wife Wendy and I have take to Niagara Falls. On sunny days we have seen rainbows, even double rainbows, as the sunbeams shine through the spray of the pounding waterfalls.
This colorful and magical splendor always captivates and energizes us, to the point of losing track of time.
How would the practice of bathing in your own imaginary rainbows add more vibrant color to your world and energize your spirit on a daily basis?
Image from Unsplash by Kevin Curtis
Perhaps no single skill is more important to professional and personal growth than to be a masterful communicator.
In the classic book How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie suggests the following:
They say two heads are better than one. What can you do to enhance your skills of dialogue to think far better with others and discover many new things through such interactions?
Consider picking up Carnegie’s book to learn more from this pioneer in the field of personal development.
One of my favorite forms of entertainment and education is watching documentaries, especially when they relate to our natural world. In the BBC series Human Planet, the filmmakers take us on a journey to many fascinating places around the world, including diverse island communities.
To my delight and fascination, many deeply held common bonds are shared by each society, such as the importance of family, community, contribution, and the desire to serve a higher purpose.
How can you look below the surface of your current professional and personal relationships to see more of what connects versus separates us from one another?
Image from Unsplash by Alex Hockett
We often hear comments about newborns having their mother’s eyes, or their father’s nose or smile.
Beyond our genetic code living on in our offspring, today’s quote points to the tremendous influence those outside our immediate family can have on us.
Take a few minutes to look at your past and current relationships to see how they have shaped the person you are today. Consider among these friends, teachers, mentors, coaches, neighbors, and religious leaders.
Where and with whom do or can you intentionally have a more positive influence within your various communities? Who are some of the individuals you may wish to thank again, or for the first time, for their contribution to your life?