CHANGE IS GOOD . . . KEEP IT LOOSE

Can Kayak Rules Keep You Successfully on Top?

By Dan Ohler

My brother, Emil, is a genius as well as being an exceptionally talented kayak paddler. Since one of my goals this summer was to learn how to pilot a kayak, it made sense to ask Emil for his help.
Picture this: A sunny, warm day on Crimson Lake in West-central Alberta. There were six student kayakers, bobbing like corks on the waves, eager to hear the words of direction and wisdom from the master of the craft.

Emil's first three phrases are indelibly imprinted in my mind, with immense life implications for you and me. These gems will keep you successfully on top, regardless of the rapids, changing currents, or tides. They'll keep you feeling good about yourself and confident in your direction through life. They will help you create powerful, positive results - professionally and personally.
You may be thinking (and so might Emil), "Ah, come-on, Dan. You've got slough-water on the brain."

Please let me explain and then I'd like to know what you think.

Kayak cockpit gems

Imagine the drum-roll of fingers on the hull of my kayak.
1) Every stroke is a correction stroke.
2) It doesn't need to be pretty; it needs to be effective.
3) Look where you want to go.

Profound, huh?

Let's take a closer look. And I challenge you to consciously apply these gems in all areas of your life.

1) Every stroke is a correction stroke.

Face the fact: the river of life rarely flows in a straight line, and the currents are continually changing.

Think about it. Is today going exactly the way you wanted it to be, or planned it? Have there been: unexpected surprises and challenges; exhilarations and disappointments; peacefulness and disturbances? Have the recent economic burps caused you to cogitate, detour, or pull back? Have people treated you the way you thought they "should?" And, have you treated every person you encountered in the most effective way?

Here's the deal. You and I accept millions of bits of stimulus every day through our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin. We may not be able to control the outside stimulus, yet we can always choose our thoughts, words, and actions in response to the stimulus. Our action or reaction determines our result, or our new direction - but not for long because we soon face another group of stimulus that has us correcting again.

Example: Recently, I was the Master of Ceremonies for an event. Part-way through the event, a gentleman approached me and told me how poorly the whole event was organized. In the past, I would have taken that as an attack on me and may have reacted by saying something less than appropriate. This time, I noticed my blood starting to boil, and with the thought,"that's an interesting response to his words," I listened attentively, thanked the gentleman for his comments, made some slight corrections, and proceeded with a very successful event.
I've been working on becoming more consciously aware of my thoughts at all times. It is like being a fly on the wall, an observer of my life, somewhat removed from my reactionary emotional attachment to situations. As I practice this, I've learned that I can choose to think, speak, and act honestly, lovingly, and respectfully toward myself and others, and my general direction through life is easier and more fun.

I continually correct with every stroke. Am I crazy, or do you do it too?

2) It doesn't need to be pretty; it needs to be effective.

In this dynamic, shifting current, we must be willing to make lightening-fast, effective choices to avoid life-threatening rocks, walls, and waves. It doesn't matter if you have the most expensive kayak, the best wetsuit, or top-of-the-line paddles sticking out your ying-yang, what matters is that you use your skills and abilities to move effectively.

It works this way when you're up the creek, and even better yet before you get there.

I make mistakes - and if you're honest with yourself, so do you. You may call them failures if you want, and that's OK as long as you recognize that failure is an event, not a person. Mistakes are my greatest teachers because I get to learn what to do next time so I don't repeat the same mistakes again. Doing that would be ignorance.

Correcting mistakes requires me to become vulnerable, to apologize, and to admit my weakness in that area. These actions may not seem pretty to me, but I've learned that they are the quickest and most effective way to get back on stream, build relationships, and surge forward in life.

Many years ago, when Jamie and Brad were little boys, I reacted negatively to something they had done. I yelled, called them "bad boys," and spanked them both. Yikes! Physical, mental, and emotional abuse all at once. Had I continued with this form of parenting, I doubt they would want anything to do with me now.

Thankfully, I recognized my mistake and was courageous enough do make a correction. It was humbling to gather Jamie and Brad close to me, apologize, and ask for their forgiveness. I remember saying, "I made a big mistake and I'm sorry. I've never been a Dad before and I need your help to learn how to be a good one."

For me, it didn't feel pretty, but it sure has turned out to be effective.

Where in your life (at work or home) do you react to situations and make mistakes in your interactions with others, but shrug it off as "that's just the way I am"? Where do you blame others, the economy, or bad luck for your mistakes? It may seem to give you power and make you look good. Yet are these choices effective in your relationships long-term?

3) Look where you want to go.

What you focus on; you attract. It's true. If I think I'm going to swim in the upcoming rapids (kayak-ectomy), I inevitably will. If I think I'm going to manoeuvre them with ease, I do.
Our minds are extremely powerful. As we think about and focus on something, we tend to attract people and situations which are congruent with our thoughts. This works for things we want - and things we don't want.

Example: When we work with couples in coaching sessions or at seminars, we ask each of them to describe their ideal relationship. Often, they have a hard time doing this. They want a happy, loving relationship, but what the heck does that mean in specific terms?

They have little peeves about what their partner says or does. They definitely know what they don't want. They go to their workplace with their grievances and challenges weighing heavily on their hearts and minds. Creativity and productivity are hindered. Their relationships at work suffer too. The more they focus on these undesirables, the more they see. And yet, they are getting exactly what they focus on.

In our 25 years of marriage, we have learned that the more we talk about, and focus on what we want in our relationship, family, and business, the more easily and quickly we create our desires. By making our relationship rock-solid, we are both far more creative and productive in our careers. Our minds are not distracted by home-life polluted thoughts that we experienced in the past. We continue to look where we want to go and we continue to get what we want.

So, my friend, what do you focus on in your life - what you want, or what you don't want? I encourage you to evaluate your results. They will indicate exactly where you look most of the time. Consciously look where you want to go.

You and I can choose to apply these kayak cockpit gems every day - or not. The waves are big, the current is strong, and there's lots of learning and fun to be had on this big river of life.

Are you coming along for the ride, or clinging to the mud on the bank?

Copyright © 2009
Author, coach, and professional speaker, Dan Ohler, helps thousands of people every year to vastly enhance their professional and personal relationships. His book, Thinkin Outside The Barn And Steppin Into Fresh B.S. will challenge you to evaluate your own Belief System (B.S.) and choose to create your life by design, rather than by default.
Dan is based near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He and Carol (his wife) offer weekend seminars, coaching, and get-aways specifically designed for couples.
Read and download 2 chapters of his book for free at Thinkin Outside The Barn
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CHANGE IS GOOD . . . .WHY NOT BE POSITIVE

Be Optimistic - You Have it in You!

By Sucheta Roy

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." ... Maria Robinson

"There's always a next chance"...we may have consoled our friends when they were passing through a difficult phase. But things may not be that easy when you confront the same situation...isn't it! Stress, depression and anxiety disorders have turned out to be a part and parcel of our lives...we struggle hard to overcome our negative emotions but often end up being unsuccessful.

Come out of this monotonous life...don't live your life trapped in worries. Don't feel dejected when you find things taking a reverse turn and not meeting up to your expectations. Live your life to the fullest...Bring in positive thoughts and you are sure to flourish in whatever endeavor you take! Dream...and make them come true. Chase your negative thoughts so that they think twice before confronting you.

Positive thinking is the greatest virtue that you need to implement in your life for enjoying it to the fullest. You can define it as an art of living that needs to be incorporated to your routine work schedules. Over and above, this remarkable virtue plays a viable role in the accomplishment of your goals.

Think twice before making any choices as the decision you make today will affect you in the days to come. This doesn't imply that I am discouraging you from taking up new ventures. Instead what I intend to say is that be confident and at the same time choosy while opting for any new venture. There's still time...start off from now...pave the way for optimistic thoughts to your mind and see the difference.

"Charity begins at home"...you may be familiar with this saying...try implementing it your life as well...start with trying to be good to your own self and followed by showing benevolence to others. Last but not the least; explore your inner power by meditating as well as praying daily. Keep your work loads at bay...don't allow them to take control over your lives.

Do you know that optimistic outlook paves the way for constructive thoughts and pleasant feelings? Even after being completely inclined towards positive thinking, our mind at times betrays us when asked to bring about a change in its thought patterns, thereby preventing you from looking towards the positive side.

Explore the power of positive thinking and see how it changes your life for the better. Good Luck!

Sucheta Roy is a Content Developer at Primediart, a premier web solutions provider specializing in providing Web Designing, Website Development and Content Writing Services. You can reach her directly at info@primediart.com or visit http://www.primediart.com
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CHANGE IS GOOD. . . . .KEEP YOUR MIND STRONG

20 Ways You Can Find Inspiration

By Mike P Weaver

Inspiration is a beautiful thing because every person gets inspired in different ways and by different means. I've compiled a list of ways anybody can find some inspiration in their life. Being inspired is a great feeling that isn't always sustainable - but it's very important in your life.

Think about this quote - "One man's trash is another man's treasure". Inspiration is the same way - something I find inspiring you might not care about or think twice about. Something that means nothing to you, might mean the world to me. Below is a list of actions, quotes, movies, etc. that you can try - and I'm betting you find inspiration in your own life if you try these out.

Here we go.

Watch the sunrise or the sunset. This gives you a good chance to reflect on the day ahead or behind you. I personally enjoy watching the sunrise - knowing that I have an entire day ahead of me to make the most out of life...

Physical exertion. Challenging yourself physically can be very inspiring and can give you great energy. This also gives you time to do what you feel with your mind - you can think though challenges, or let your mind escape the day to some of your favorite music. I find running to be very therapeutic and often times look forward to getting into my run.

Consult your dreams. It's easy to get bogged down by the many tasks and busy schedules each week presents to our lives. Take a few minutes each week or every month to really think about what your dreams. I find it very inspiring to let go of what's bouncing around in my head from the work day to think about the big picture of life.

Travel. Seeing new places and meeting new people can be very inspiring. Even if you aren't a very social person - take a weekend and put yourself in a different environment that you find to be enjoyable. Some ideas could be camping, scenic drives, visit a local town known for great architecture, walk the beach (if you're lucky enough to be near one!), etc. I highly recommend international travel if you can, I have found immersion into a different culture to be highly rewarding and interesting.

This quote. "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." - Maria Robinson

This quote too. "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Nature. I can find inspiration in all phases of nature. If you give yourself time to reflect, it's easier to be inspired if you are in the presence of nature. Maybe it's sitting on your front porch on a nice evening, or in your garage witnessing a driving rain, or taking a walk on a crisp fall morning - you get the idea. Nature is a very powerful thing - think about using some of that power for own benefit!

Get organized. Clean up your office or your house and get organized. File, throw away, figure out what you need, etc. to put yourself in a position to move forward in a positive direction - this will inspire you to take on what's next. Sometimes clutter and useless stuff lingers in our workspace or home and slows productivity and advancement.

Be a good friend. Give your best friend, your brother, your father - anyone that you have a caring relationship with a phone call or pay them a visit. This allows you to break away and talk about problems, tell stories, discuss frustrations, etc. A good and active friendship can be the source of inspiration.

Be a volunteer. Give an hour of your time to a local organization. You'll meet great people and have a pure, good feeling that you've given your time to help someone in need.

Watch Slumdog Millionaire. A great movie that immerses you in the slums of India and takes you on a journey of a boy's life and ultimate destiny. If you have not seen it, your local library or Blockbuster (use your library!!) will most definitely have it free for you to rent.
And watch the movie Rudy. If you want to see a great story about someone pursuing their ultimate passion and overcoming every obstacle in their way - watch Rudy.

Lose the routine. Do something out of the ordinary that you wouldn't usually do - something that's not in your everyday routine. Wake up extra early and take a walk or get a cup of coffee and think about the day ahead of you. If you're not a reader, read. If you're not active, take a walk or go for a run. The options are endless for breaking your routine. And yes, you do have time time because you make the decisions in your life - nobody else decides how you spend your time but yourself.

People Watch. I know some individuals that people watch for sheer entertainment. And yes, it is entertaining. However, as entertaining as it may be - it can also be very inspirational. You get to see how different types of people communicate and react to one another and it forces you to reflect about your life. Give people watching a try, but with the intention of getting something positive out of it.

Read the The Diary of Anne Frank. A Jewish German girl who's family went into hiding as persecutions against the Jews increased. Anne Frank and her family were trapped in small living quarters for nearly two years - living in fear the entire time. It's a great story about the power of the human spirit - and seeing the good in life even when you could easily say that everything is wrong. "I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains." - Anne Frank. The book is full of fantastic quotes. It's a fast read because it is so very compelling. I had the honor of walking through the attic where Anne and her family hid when I visited Amsterdam a few years ago.

This Image. Print this off and post it at your workspace.

Visit the Bookstore / Library. Spending some time around a ton of books is a way to get you thinking about different things. Whatever your interests are in life - you better believe there are some books out there that can expand your thinking and knowledge base.

Finish a 7 Day Challenge. Everybody thinks about things they'd like to do more or less of - it's natural. Often times you may be thinking about making some kind of change for week, months, even years at times. The easiest and most effective way to get the ball rolling - is to challenge yourself for 7 days. Start small - complete your challenge. Accomplishment is a huge source of inspiration and motivation.

Share. Involve others in your thoughts, feelings, desires, goals, opinions, etc. Invite others to share those things with you. You'll find that doing this opens up your mind in many ways. Life is a constant learning process. By sharing, you are inadvertently teaching yourself and laying the groundwork for what action you should take next. Sharing helps lay groundwork or a foundation - and I can bet you that you'll feel inspired about taking that next step off the ground.

Find inspiration in your life and more articles by Mike Weaver at http://www.findinspirationtoday.com
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CHANGE IS GOOD . . . . SIMPLE BUT TRUE

Life Success - Lessons That You Must Learn

By Reuben Ochieng

The world today needs people who can 'think outside the box'.

I have recently discovered that there is always an opportunity for everyone to write history once in a lifetime.

You only become influential and successful when you discover your opportune time to write history and work on it. Even the most successful businessmen and women will confirm to you that though they may have traded for a long time, a timely business deal emerged that sealed their business success.

Consistency is one essential character of the world's leading success stories. If you consistently do something, your breakthrough will eventually come. Remember that nature is designed to reward the consistent. But this reward will only be great if you realize the advancement moment.

Business marketing strategies may not work for your business as they have done for others. This is because your competitor's success may be your downfall. But you must identify what works for you and do your best.

Believe that by doing it over and over again; you will eventually emerge with outright success.
Everyone who wants to climb to the top of the success ladder must believe in him/herself. There is no success that comes knocking at everyone's door. You must work for it. This is not possible for cowards and people with great inferiority complex.

It goes without saying that success comes to those who have identified their in born abilities towards a particular course. Michael Jackson became a king in the music industry by identifying his music potential. I will therefore be right to propose that they are so many people like Michael Jackson who are struggling to make ends meet in other professions like medicine or engineering.

Reuben is a practicing financial coach Click Here! learn more!!!
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