Daniel Webster was one of the greatest orators of all time. It is said that he even out talked the Devil in order to save a man’s soul. Truth is, what he said wasn’t as important as the way he said it. There is one sentence from his speech, though, that should stick in our minds: “Let us in this our day and generation perform something worthy to be remembered.”

How many of us are living up to this challenge?  Many of us spend our time blindly walking through life. We have become afraid to stick our necks out fearing we will get into trouble.

The world around us is filled with troubling circumstances. People are starving. Men and women are unemployed. Families are losing their homes. The elderly are scared and alone. Our cities are facing unbearable financial and crime burdens. Our air isn’t fit to breathe.  Litter pollutes our surroundings. Climate changes are affecting our globe.  What are we doing about it?  Some of us complain about it. Some pull their shades down and ignore everything.  Some turn on the television and lose themselves in make-believe or get bogged down by the never ending news reports.   We do so much of everything else so we won’t have to see what’s really going on outside.

What good is building up your own confidence if you can’t take the initiative to pick up a piece of trash on the sidewalk?  What about lending a hand to help a neighbor?  How about holding the door open for another person?  Think about it for a moment.  Changing your life means taking the risks and looking for the opportunities to make even smallest of changes in our surroundings.

Daniel Webster was ahead of his time.  He knew what he was talking about. He knew that we are only here on earth for a short period of time.  It was with this thought in mind that he challenged us to do something worthy of being remembered in that brief time. We may chuckle at the Boy Scouts and their daily good deed, but how many of us can boast of a good deed a day, a week, a month or even a year?  It’s possible for anyone to become a success, but the richest man on earth is a failure if he measures success by what he does for himself alone.  It is our duty to reach out and touch someone with a positive word, deed or action every day. It may be as small as saying “Hello”, or giving a smile to someone who is alone. Or perhaps you are moved to volunteer at a hospital or old age home for a few hours. It’s not the quantity of time but the quality of time that is the greatest gift you can give. Showing gratitude to others when they show kindness to you is an amazing gift that you can give back to them, it shows honor and respect for their act.

What things are you doing that are worthy and will be remembered? Think about what Daniel Webster said. The next time you’re tempted to complain or turn your back, ask yourself, “If I don’t do something to change this situation right now, who will?”  Perhaps someone else, but more likely no one else. You can change the world if you believe in yourself, and be remembered with love and gratitude by those who come after you.

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com * You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.

Let’s take a look at two ordinary days in your life.

On the first day, you wake up in the morning feeling well rested and ready to start the day on the right foot – it’s  beautiful outside and the sun is shining brightly.  The birds are chirping and you can smell the rich coffee aroma wafting up to your bedroom. You get up out of bed with a smile and great mental attitude knowing that today will be a fantastic day!

Getting to work is a breeze.  You move through your work with ease and  manage to finish that big project ahead of schedule.  Getting home is just as smooth as it was in the morning and you finish up your day with a relaxing and enjoyable evening at home with your family.  This was an ideal day!

On the second day, you wake up after having a restless night’s sleep.  Feeling sleep deprived, you notice that it’s grey and cloudy outside.  There’s a crack of thunder and it begins to pour.  You can’t smell the coffee brewing and realize that you forgot to set the timer.  With a sigh, you get out of bed with a negative attitude and know that it’s going to be a long day.

Getting to work is a nightmare.  You can’t seem to get motivated to get through your work and you end up spending your entire day looking at the clock and wishing it was time to go home.  The drive home from work is even worse than in the morning and by the time you get home, you just want to crawl into bed and forget that this day ever happened.

Sound familiar?

What is the difference between these two ordinary days?  Only one thing – YOU!!

The Life Mirror

Life is like a mirror.  Think about that.

One side of the mirror is your mental state.  This is your attitude, positive or negative, and your feelings.  The other side of the mirror is the reflection of your mental state.  This is your external world and the results you are achieving in that world.  Right about now you are saying, “Wait a minute!  The world happening around me has nothing to do with my current mental state.”

Au contraire, mon ami – the world IS a reflection of your mental state.  How can this be?  How can your internal world create your external world?  Let’s take a look.

First, and foremost, your mental state influences your behavior and your actions.  When you have a good attitude, positive actions come easily.  Conversely, when you have a negative attitude, everything seems so difficult to do.

People around you observe and are influenced by your behavior and actions.  When you are positive and optimistic, the people that are attracted to you will be of like mind and influence. When you are negative and pessimistic, you will find that most of the people you attract into your life will possess the same characteristics.  The things you achieve in your life are affected in the same way.

The results you receive and the people you associate with influence what you perceive in your world and your perceptions influence your mental state thereby completing the circle.

It is completely in your hands to control how you perceive the world and your mental state. You have the ability to choose to see the negative or the positive in any given situation simply by changing your state of mind.

Experience The Life Mirror In Action

You can experience the power of the life mirror at any time.  Simply start by thinking about the people you surround yourself with.  To see this in action, try these two simple exercises:

1.  It’s easy to tell a lot about an individuals inner world by looking at their outer world. People are always wearing masks to try and hide their mental state, but if you look closely, there are always little clues that tell the real story – how they dress, how they walk, the way they keep their house, their behavior.  These subtle signs tell far more than they are sometimes willing to admit.

2.  Make a conscious effort to portray a positive attitude for an entire day.  Do this even if you are not in the best of moods.  Make a point to smile, say hello, open doors and say, “Have a great day!”  Observe how people respond to you.  You will immediately notice that people will become more positive and friendly.  The biggest beneficiary of you attitude adjustment will be you!  Your change of attitude will be a magnet for positive energy and positive results in everything you do.

As you can clearly see, you have the power to change your world just by changing your mental state.  If you want better results, you first need to create a better you!

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com * You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.

There will always be things we fear in life. Some of us fear the obvious such as heights, spiders, snakes or flying. However, many of us develop fears around things that shouldn’t hinder us, but often do. Do you fear being rejected? What about taking risks? Do you fear being a failure or even achieving success?

Everyone has the tendency to form “zones of comfort” around themselves: Invisible boundaries between what makes us feel comfortable and uncomfortable. Zones of comfort are not always bad. They can be safety nets that prevent us from doing something extremely stupid or reckless. More often, however, our zones of comfort are built on beliefs that may or may not be true. If you’ve gone through a painful rejection in the past, you might create a zone of comfort that prevents you from taking chances and possibly being rejected again. In this scenario, the zone of comfort isn’t the problem. It’s the underlying belief that you could be rejected again that’s the problem.

Just because you may have been rejected in the past does not mean you will be rejected again in the future. That particular zone of comfort causes you to act in a way that is counterproductive to your own success in life. You dread meeting new people, getting involved in any type of a relationship or even applying for new jobs. Deep inside is a part of you that’s expecting to be rejected again and your mind directs you to do whatever is necessary to limit the possibility of that going through that experience once again.  Pain isn’t fun to experience, and it’s amazing how our minds force us to  avoid it at all costs!

It’s very possible that you’re not even aware of many of your zones of comfort. Take a look at your life as it is right now. Are you making as much money as you’d like? Are you satisfied with your job? Do you enjoy meeting new people and getting to know them? Are you setting new goals for yourself and achieving them? If you answered “Yes” to these questions, you probably aren’t being hindered in any way by your zones of comfort.  If you answered “No” to any of these questions, you probably have some issues to work through.

Here’s a simple way to discover if your fears are holding you back from your goals and your ideal life: Compose a list of the worst possible things you can imagine happening to you. What are your most deeply seated fears? What aspects of your life do you not enjoy? Why? If you don’t enjoy meeting new people, you must ask yourself why that is. What is the absolute worst thing you can imagine happening when you meet someone new? You must be brutally honest with yourself.

Once you know what you are truly afraid of, consider what the consequences would be if your worst fear were to be realized. Could you live with those consequences? Going back to the rejection example, think about what some of the consequences of being rejected again might be? Would you be able to live with those consequences? I’m certain you’ll be surprised at how small most of the consequences are, and how easily we could live with them if we had to.

Fear has a way of making itself much bigger in our minds than it is in reality! We work ourselves into a sweat, terrified of the “what ifs” — when in fact, the outcome is really not such a big deal. As with most other things, we’d just simply pick ourselves up and continue on our way.

Once you pinpoint what your fears are and you understand and accept the consequences related to these fears, you must challenge your zones of comfort and face that fear by doing the thing you fear most. Refuse to let fear control you! Tell your fear, “I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I’m going to do it anyway.” And then just do it. Then do it again. And again. The first few times you step out of your zones of comfort, you WILL be uncomfortable. Expect that and accept it. Fear will not vanish overnight, but it will go away after your mind understands that the fear is groundless.

Just because you conquer your fears and expand your zones of comfort doesn’t mean you should become reckless either. There is a huge difference between blindly leaping into the unknown and taking a calculated risk. Before acting, take a few moments to think about the action you want to take.  Consider all of the consequences and ask yourself if you’re willing to accept them. If you are, go for it! If you’re not, that’s okay! Don’t feel like you have to push yourself beyond what you’d be willing to accept. Place the issue on the back burner for awhile and reconsider it at a later time.

The point is to stop letting fear make your decisions and to begin making them for yourself. It will take time to get used to this new way of thinking, but before long you’ll automatically begin questioning your fear and stop letting it control you. Once that happens, there’s no telling the level of success and happiness you will reach!

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com * You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.

“It matters not what a person is born, but (whom) they choose to be.”
J. K. Rowling

One of the most important reasons you can become a better person today is because you can choose to “step outside the box” now instead of living your life in continuous fear. Not stepping through fear can make you unhappy, limited, and controlled.

You can be free of that limiting thinking!  Constantly and continually prove this to yourself by “stepping outside the box” when you are being challenged in life. When you are in a situation that, from past experience, makes you feel uncomfortable or scared, keep the following things in mind and it will be much easier:

1. Most of the things I worry about never take place

2. Doing something I fear will make me grow as a person

3. I will gain more confidence and personal supremacy

4. My past does not equal my future

5. I will be contributor, instead of an observer, of life

Have you done anything lately that really scared you but, after you did it, you realized you had greater confidence and personal power?  If you haven’t, give it a try! The only way to get past your fear of doing something is to do it…Now!

The objective is not to just to break through the walls of your box but to have no box at all.  Stepping outside the box and getting uncomfortable is the only way to grow as a human being. We admire the courageous people, those who take risks and go out there in spite of feeling scared and uncomfortable.

If you want to achieve your goals, you have to stretch yourself, step outside of that box you have created, get out of that comfort zone, and take chances! Challenge yourself by stretching your thinking, embracing diverse ideas, and trying new things. Your world will begin to expand and your confidence will grow. Your dreams will come alive and your possibilities will be endless!

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com . You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.

We always exist in a state of grace. Grace is our kindness of heart, and our generosity of spirit. Grace is unconditional love and the beauty that is our humanity. When we know that we are blessed with grace, we can’t help but want to live our lives in grace.  Grace is a permanent part of our being. Knowing we are graced gives us hope, makes us more magnanimous, and allows us to trust that we are taken care of.

No matter what situation has arisen for me, when faced with a crisis of minimal or massive proportions, some unexpected curve ball of a blessing (grace) has popped up from way out in left field. I never see them coming, but every time they are there. The blessings can be something as small as hearing a phrase that has stuck in my head for so long that it reveals a completely new perspective. Or, it can be something as big as finding the funds needed to pay for some financial commitments.

No matter how bad it seems, life just has a way of gliding on – every time. Believe me, it has happened so often that I have had to let go of any skepticism! Life has a way of working out without me being at the wheel and in control every minute. I know I can comfortably take a deep breath, hand over my fears, and just go with whatever happens – trusting that I’ll land on my feet.

The trick is in letting go of your personal blue print for how you think things should work out. The ability to accept what is happening and letting go of ones original expectations is key when dealing with these unexpected turns of fate. We have a tendency to get stuck in our heads, clinging to an idea of how we think life should go, and we have a difficult time accepting anything that doesn’t comply with that idea. The fact is that life is unpredictable.

Even positive turns of fortune – an unexpected influx of cash or finding the ideal job or partner – require us to be flexible and to reconsider our plans and priorities, sometimes in the blink of an eye.  Joseph Campbell said, “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”  So, next time a curve ball comes your way, take a deep breath, say thank you, and open your mind to a new opportunity!

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com . You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.

Kindness is generosity of our spirit. It springs to life when we give of ourselves and our time to be of help to others, without expecting anything in return. When you show kindness to someone, you bring out the best in yourself and you benefit from brightening up another persons day.

Its important to pay attention to the impact your behavior has on others and to notice your own feelings in association to their reactions. Think about how you feel when someone else shows you kindness. What you give away comes back to you in even greater quantity. When you are kind, you not only get an immediate payback in terms of the feel-good factor, you will also receive kindness from others in completely unexpected and unrelated ways.

It is so easy to find ways to be kind to others: Say something supportive when you instinctively feel someone needs to hear it; offer help without being asked; smile encouragingly; swallow your criticisms; listen without judgement; let mistakes slide instead of assigning blame; make small sacrifices for the benefit of someone in greater need.

A great rule of thumb is to remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as I’d have them do unto me and do unto myself as I’d do unto others. The second part is just as important as the first. It not good to be consistently kind to others and forget to be kind to yourself. You will run out of steam and be less able to show kindness to others if you don’t replenish your own mind, body, and spirit on a regular basis.

Being kind to yourself means getting your needs met, being gentle with yourself instead of critical when you feel you’re not performing at your best, and forgiving yourself when the need arises instead of beating yourself up. When you get in the habit of treating yourself with kindness, it becomes much easier to extend that same consideration and behavior to those around you.

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com . You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.

“We create our lives a thought at a time. And sometimes, it comes down to changing a thought such as “Why did this happen to me?” into “There is a divine plan and there is a reason for this, and my choice is to create the most positive reaction I can.”

Dee Wallace Stone

It’s well known that positive thinking and positive action attracts positive things. But did you also know that it is not possible to stay motivated and positive all the time.  You must constantly check your thought processes as the barrage of daily activities can make you forget about your dreams and goals from time to time. In other words, if you live a motivated life, you will feel that your life has improved.

Here are some simple ideas to increase your motivation and work toward that improved life you desire:

1. Seek Out Positive Energy!

Make a concious effort to stay away from all forms of negativity. Avoid cynics, pessimists, whiners and complain kings and queens. They will not support your goals and desires, only drain your energy and stifle your dreams.  Associate with positive and happy people. Their enthusiasm for life is contagious. Positive and optimistic people will uplift your spirits and help you through the challenging times. Motivational CD’s, books and seminars are plentiful.  Find people that truly inspire you and listen to what they have to say or write.

2. Don’t Ever Give Up!

Never, ever give up!  You may stumble a bit, but you will not fail if you keep on trying. Work hard at what you want to achieve and banish negative thoughts from your mind. What’s most important is to have faith in yourself. During difficult times, you will find ways to keep your spirits up and keep moving forward. Remember, if you think positively, you will attract positive results – if you think negatively, you will attract negative results.

3. Reflect On Every Success!

There will be days that will take every ounce of will power to feel motivated and move forward. How can you continue to stay motivated? Reflect on what is happening in your life and what you can gather from it. Reflect on how far you’ve come. Think about some of your past accomplishments that make you feel good. Make a list of all your achievements, both personal and professional, big and small, and see how much you have accomplished. This is concrete evidence that you have made good use of your time and energy.

4. Don’t Wait, Do It Now!

While it’s important to work according to your plan, don’t wait for every detail to be perfect before you make your move.  If you wait for perfection or the absolute perfect moment, you will never get anywhere with your plans. Work within your plan and boldly take that very first step. Frustration can easily set in when you make meticulous plans, never ending lists, and detailed steps, but never take action. YOU must make it happen. The first step is the hardest, but once you take action and repeat the action process again and again, you will be on your way!

5. Take Time To Relax!

It is critical to take time off from your pursuits. In this crazy world we live in, everyone needs to slow down and enjoy some rest and relaxation every now and then. Rest, by itself, is a huge motivator. We are so busy that we often forget to relax and recharge. You have to recharge your “batteries”, refresh your attitude, and renew your commitment to yourself. Without including rest and relaxation in your game plan, you will burn out and your plan will never become a reality. Taking time off from work is essential to your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Incorporate these simple steps into your daily routine and the results will astound you!

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com . You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.

We could all afford to be a little bit happier in this day and age.  The stresses of our economy, job instability, relationships, and the daily grind tax us physically and mentally.  Charles Schulz may have gotten it right when he wrote that, “Happiness is a warm blanket.”  Sometimes it is the simple things that can make us the happiest.  To reconnect with that “happy” feeling, incorporating a gratitude journal into your daily routine can help to transform your daily outlook.

Each morning upon waking, write down three things that you have to look forward to in your day.  In the beginning, this may seem like a daunting task.  To make it easier on yourself, start with some of the simplest things that you look forward to every day.  Do you enjoy having a cup of coffee or tea before starting your day?  How about taking your dog for a walk?  Perhaps it is taking a walk with a friend, reading a chapter in a book, meditating, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face, or working out.  These are the simple things that start our day and make us feel good.  Write them down and revel in the joy that they bring you.

Each evening before you go to sleep, write down three things that were good or you are grateful for today. They might be things like your health, a friend, the sunset, a flower or even a meal. Perhaps you might think of highlights in your day. Perhaps something wonderful happened or you received a compliment.

The technique of utilizing a gratitude journal may seem too simple to work, but it is perfect for helping you to change your focus. While you are thinking of good things in your life, it crowds out the thoughts that are making you depressed or sad. By choosing things to look forward to in your day, you will notice and appreciate each and every thing that comes your way. Happiness does not lie in circumstances as much as it does in our thoughts. There are wealthy people who are terribly depressed, and poor people who are extremely happy. There are those who feel lonely even though they are surrounded by loving family, and others who live alone who feel blessed by the love in their lives. Some people have lost so much in their lives, and yet live each day overflowing with joy, because they focus not on what they have lost or don’t have, but rather on what they do have.

It won’t take long for you to see that using a gratitude journal will improve your moods and happiness. Once you get in the habit of writing three things in your journal every morning and evening, you will find yourself wanting to increase your gratitude list to include more items.  It is easier to start small and work your way up to longer lists.  Once these gratitude entries become a habit, expand your lists.  You will be amazed at how many things make your day and, in turn, make you happy.

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com . You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.

I love learning words in other languages. It makes me feel more connected to the rest of the world somehow.

One of my favorites is this beautiful word in Spanish…MILAGRO. Quite simply…

A MILAGRO is a miracle.

And judging by the response this guy’s other videos have already gotten, there are a whole lot of Milagros going on. He’s gotten over 1200 responses on his blog, and they are filled with wonder and gratitude.

Tapping into the true potential of your life IS a miracle!

If you’d like to welcome the good news of a milagro into your life too, I’d suggest you watch this right now…

http://www.MindMovies.com/vid3/?14119

The feedback about what these folks are giving away has been absolutely incredible.

Basically, people are calling this…The BEST Visualization Tool Ever!

I mean, if what they are giving away can make such a difference for this many people, consider what this could do for you.

You know, stories from folks trying to get into the groove with the law of attraction or manifesting are often tinged with a certain amount of frustration. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here’s where you’ll find the answer… http://www.MindMovies.com/vid3/?14119

It’s incredibly powerful, and I absolutely know it will unleash the “milagro factor” in your life as well.

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

P.S. Be sure to watch ALL of this! Ryan has a BIG surprise for you at the end. [HINT: If you’d love to hear directly from one of the superstars from The Secret, now you can!]

Each moment of our daily lives provides us with an amazing opportunity – to be a part of the movement toward greater spiritual awareness that is becoming more important in our society nowadays. Humanity, as a whole, is reawakening to this awareness and each of us is an active participant in this process even if we are not consciously aware of it.

One of the simplest and most profound spiritual teachings asks that each one of us be in the present moment. This is an ancient teaching and, considering the world we live in today, one that has an even greater implication than ever before. With the advent of modern technology (in the form of such things as the Internet and cellular phones) and the faster pace at which we are living, our daily lives are filled to capacity with communication, tasks and assorted events that we must deal with. With all of these things bombarding us, how can we remain centered, spiritually guided, and present to the love of God in the midst of such a quickly changing landscape?

Meditation practice can no longer be separated from the events of our daily lives. The nature of the times we live in now requires us to be fully present in life and to address the many challenges all of us are facing. Though it continues to be beneficial to consciously set aside a few minutes of silent, contemplative time every day, our hectic lives are asking that we carry this meditative awareness even further into our daily routine.

Regular meditation or prayer trains our mind and body to create space around habitual and reactive patterns that separate us from the love of God. Meditation is extremely useful in order to free yourself from negative and self defeating patterns. Five minutes a day of meditation and/or prayer has the ability to refresh the body, mind and spirit and can help transform or create better insight into difficult situations.

Take this one step further and have your whole day be a meditation and a prayer. This is not meant as drudgery, but as joyful freedom. How? Start with awareness and the intention that as you go through your daily routine, you are becoming closer to God.  As you go about the affairs of your daily life, notice how God is guiding you. What thoughts and feelings are present within you? What events come into your day unexpectedly? What challenges do you face? How do you respond to persons you run into during the day? Notice the many opportunities you have to share love, praise, assistance, and compassion with others. Do you happily embrace these opportunities, or do you turn a deaf ear because you are busy with other things?

Every day and every moment is a spiritual teaching. God is constantly revealing how we can love and learn more about ourselves and the Divine. God speaks to us in each moment, even if we think we cannot hear. The voice of spirit lives within our bodies, our hearts, our minds, and our consciousness. Every day is a blessing that is given to us freely. What we do with this blessing has a profound influence on those around us; on our loved ones, our friends, and the greater network of human consciousness that we are a part of.

The Mother Earth benefits from the blessings that we share through being fully present in our daily lives. The vibration of love that opens when we attune to God creates a healing presence that affects the physical and energy bodies of the Earth, and offers positive energy during this challenging time when so much is changing on a planetary level. Bestow yourself blessings, praise, and love every time you breathe and take a moment to attune spiritually in the midst of your busy day. By embracing the blessing of the present moment, you are helping Mother Earth, your fellow man and, most importantly, yourself.

Susan Karim

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness Coach

http://myactiontimer.com

© 2009 * MyActionTimer.com . You may use this article in your own publications or web sites as long as NO changes are made to the text and the “Resource Box” above is included in its entirety.