How to Keep Your Dreams Alive

As Anais Nin states, "Dreams are necessary for life." They add value to our lives and to the lives of others. But dreams are also like a flickering candle. A gentle breeze or unexpected draft can easily snuff it out. The fragile flame which represents our desires needs to be protected to remain burning.

However, weaknesses such as feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure, and poor association can easily blow out our ambitions, resulting in wasted potential and unrealized dreams. What can we do to protect our goals from our frailties?

We all know human frailty is part of life. However, HOW we handle discoveries about ourselves is key. The wise person seeks the truth and allows themselves to receive feedback from a trusted source-their own self. Through self-observation, we can recognize and audit areas of counterproductive behavior.

What is the purpose of a self-audit? The purpose of a self- audit is to verify information about ourselves and to assess whether our actions are moving us toward or away from our stated goals.

Do a realistic self-audit. How can I better support my passions? What patterns of behavior do I exhibit that sabotage my goals? What areas of self doubt is an obstacle to my desires? As I look at my daily schedule, am I making the realization of my dreams a priority? Asking these questions will help you clarify steps you need to take to keep your dreams alive.

Below are a few areas to consider as you do a self-audit.

I. Feelings of Inadequacy

Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity can easily delay or halt a dream. We can second guess or dismiss the validity of our talents which often results in apathy and procrastination, making our dreams out of reach.

At a recent Christmas get-together, I listened as my uncle sipped scotch between his words as if to buffer the impact of his realizations.

"Rozzie," he said, "I finally realized, after hearing time and time again from parents, teachers and students that I'm a great substitute teacher, Gee, just maybe they see something in me I don't. Maybe I should accept the fact that I can teach, and stop berating myself."

I eagerly shook my head in agreement.

How sad, I thought. Lost in insecurity, my uncle has wasted so much time; he could have accepted his teaching gift long ago and developed it. Life might have turned out different for him. Maybe he could have been a professor at a prestigious university by now.

Entertaining feelings of inadequacy can cripple our progress towards our dreams.

If you struggle with feelings of inadequacy here are a few suggestions:

Although feelings of inadequacy can run deep, decide to accept it as part of your reality as you move towards your desires, rather than compound these feelings through denying or resisting them. Rehearse this axiom: "What is, is." If you feel fear before a job interview, accept that. If self-conscious feelings surface as you confront your boss, acknowledge that. It will take the edge off these feelings.

Secondly, apply "reality-based" thinking to your negative thoughts. Our interior world dictates our outer circumstances. Negative thoughts such as, "I'll never amount to anything," can result in a sense of hopelessness and apathy. It can easily result in a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Instead, identify your negative thinking. You might want to write it in a journal. "I'll never amount to anything." Write how that makes you feel. Anxious? Fearful? Despairing?

Now talk back to this thought by being more rational. Perhaps you can write in your journal, "I've accomplished some things--I worked hard and three years ago I finished college. I have a job that pays the bills. People say I'm a good teacher..."

Now assess how you feel. Are your negative feelings less intense? Good! This powerful tool helps us see ourselves more realistically. Try it. Managing our thoughts is a major key in attaining our desires.

2. Learn How to Fail Well

Failure is the flip side of success. But too often, we personalize failure, attributing it to our character. What lethal thinking! Once we see ourselves as failures it becomes a smoke screen in dealing with problems, and overcoming them. Inherent in failure are lessons to help us reach success. We simply need to listen to the correction, seek out others who can help us, implement new behaviors, and as a result, personally and professionally grow. Use failure to your advantage.

3. Positive Associations

Associations are key to success. Positive relationships are uplifting and inspirational; we renew our energy and motivation in the presence of such people. However, there are other relationships that leave us emotionally and even physically drained. Perhaps, such a friend is critical of your aspirations or depressive. If you feel a knot in your stomach around certain friends, it might be a signal to precede cautiously. Spend less time with energy-draining friends or family members. Protecting your energy in order to pursue your goals, and coupling with like-minded ambitious people opens the doors to greater success.

Inherent in our goals is a better quality of life for ourselves and others. Protect them. By assessing our weaknesses and planning to deal with them, we are keeping our dreams alive, and making them a reality.

Rosalind Henderson is a speaker, author and Peak Performance expert. She is the director and founder of Life Keys Inc, a college student resource center dedicated to empowering college students to live life on purpose and with passion. She has presented over 500 presentations to businesses, churches and college students across America. To book Rosalind for an event and/or to view her products contact her through http://www.rosalindhenderson.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosalind_Henderson

Okechukwu Donald Chigbu,Empowers people for success and wealth creation.
Visit his site at www.okeychigbu.com
He is also the founder www.reachouttoall.com, a ministry to a godly and successful life.

Hinderances to Success

There are a lot of hinderances to success,but we will look at two of them.

1. Disobedience: There are certain rules and principles laid down for anything you want to venture into.When you disobey by refusing to apply the principles,there is no way you can achieve success no matter how hard you work.There is no shortcut to success.
Remember the case of Abraham,God promised him alot of things in Gen 12 but to recieve those things he was a given some conditions to obey which one of them was that he should go alone to where Good ask him to go,but he disobeyed by taking Lot along with him.He passed through a lot of troubles because of that and it was only when he obeyed and parted with Lot that he recieve the blessings of God.
Always try to obey the rules guiding whatever you want to do in other to succeed.

2. Indiscipline: This is another factor that hinders success.It takes discipline to succeed in this era where everything is calling for your attention.
For instance in the online business world where a lot of adverts for one programme or the other or one money making formular or the other comes to your email telling you their own is the best,you have to discipline yourself and choose among all of them the one you want to do and abide strictly to it or else you will be defocused and you will find yourself damble into one today and tomorow another without making any headway.
Practise how to discipline yourself and you will see a change.

Remember to drop your comments as they are highly welcomed.
Feel free to use any article on this blog anywhere just make sure you include the signature below


Okechukwu Chigbu- A Success and Empowerment Motivator
www.okeychigbu.blogspot.com
www.successwithwealth.blogspot.com

Re-discover Yourself

Do you know that your background,present status,and what have you does not determine the level of success you will attain in life.
It is you that will determine how far you have to go and all it takes for you to go far is to rediscover yourself.
What i am saying is, that your family or generation is poor doesn't mean you will be,if they are poor,break that yoke like the popular
Nigerian comedian 'I GO DIE'normally say.that he refused to accept poverty,he discovered that he has a calling in comedy and today,he is among one of the popular comedians.
Taking you to the bible like i normally do,David started as a shephered but he discovered the warrior in him which elevated him to a king,Moses
was from an idol worshiping background,yet he was a God chosen leader,Jabez was born with sorrow as a name,but he changed it,the list go on and on.
Do not allow where you came from or the family you were born in limit you or hinder you from reaching where you suppose to be,it is You that will hinder yourself if you refuse to rediscover what God has endowed in you.
-Take responsibility of your life
-Find out your calling in life and work towards it so that you will be moving in the right direction
-Put all neccessary plans in place
-Work strictly towards achieving your goals
-Awaken your sleeping gaint
-Resist fear,
-Ask God for help and i tell you,you will get to where you dream of and where God wants you to be.


Remember to drop your comments as they are highly welcomed.
Feel free to use any article on this blog anywhere just make sure you include the signature below


Okechukwu Chigbu- A Success and Empowerment Motivator
www.okeychigbu.blogspot.com
www.successwithwealth.blogspot.com

Keys to Increase your Success and Prosperity

Do you wish to prosper more? Then try applying these principles.
1. How do you view your source of prosperity?
Do you think it is your power,ability,wisdom,skills,energy?If you are answer yes,then you are wrong because the bible said that you should remember the Lord your God for He is the one who gives you power to make wealth.Whatever you have achieved is by His power,so if you wish to prosper more,do not rely on your own effort only,recognise Him as the source and power behind yor success and seek for more power and wisdom from Him,He will give you bountifully and you will prosper more.

2. How do you use your wealth?
The money you are making,do you spend it wisely? Do you use it alone? What about the needy and the less priviledge,what about the work of God.Instead of spending on any wastelful areas;think about the orphanage homes,the sick in the hospital,and what about the progress of the work of God,your wealth is meant to support in all these areas.Remember it is more blessed to give and God also said,give and it shall be given unto you even more than the one you give.And when you give,give it cheerfully for God loves a cheerful giver.Your prosperity will increase as you do this.


3.Are you stealing Gods part of your wealth?
Have you wondered why some unexpected or unnecessary expenses arise,things that should not have happened in the normal sense,you see yourself spending what could have been kept.Those things are devourers to your income.They can be stoped.Take proper analysis,you my have been stealing what belongs to God,and instead of giving it to God,you give it to the devil through all these expenses.God can help you increase your wealth and stop all these unnecessary wastage by rebuking those devourers for your sake when you return one tenth of your income to Him.In a very simple term,pay your tithe(just one tenth) always and stop stealing God's wealth and you will see increase.

God is willing to help you prosper as you apply all these.

Till i come your way again,your prosperity is sure and i am always committed to give you Godly tips to help you out.
Feel free to drop your comments

Okechukwu Chigbu
http://okeychigbu.blogspot.com

Success Laws 3

Hello Everyone,
Hope you have been enjoying our series on Success Laws.
Today we are cocluding our lessons.We are looking at
- Law of Service
It states that your rewards in life will be in direct proportion to the value of your service to others.
Believe it or not,the living we are making is a result of the service we are rendering to others directly or indirectly be it providing solution to a problem or offering any useful information product or any service at all.
For example,if you are an employee,your are been paid salary because you work for your employer by rendering a service which you do by utilising your skill,that is service,if you own a business,people pay you because you are serving them by providing a solution to their problems either through a product or service.So how does it affect your success? Very Simple
If you want more than what you are getting in terms of your reward whether financially or otherwise,provide additional service to people,and your reward will increase.
If you have some skills,turn them into money making service or product and use it to serve others it to others.
In essence anything you turn into more service will result into more rewards.

In conclusion i am giving you this free ebook titled success ebook , download it here
See you on top.


Okey Chigbu

Success Laws 2

We are continuing in our success laws.
Today we are looking at;

1. Law of Responsibilty

It states that 'you are completely responsible for everything you are and for everything you become and achieve'.
Bringing it closer home,Some people blame their parents for not seding them to one university or the other or not providing then this or that.
SOme also blame the goevrnment for their poor financial state,some blame the economy,some their boss in the office,some blame
the examination board when they fail,and many other blames and blames and blames.
If you continue like that,you will die blaming(i am not wishing you bad),But you must take responsibility of your life,
convert that mistake your parents made as lesson to achieve your dreams,awaking the sleeping giant in you,and give our life a better living
which is what God designed it to be.Change your thinking,take control of yor mind. Create,inventand modify that change you desire.
Stop blaming anybody,Take Responsiblity of Your Life.

2.Law of Direction

It states that 'successful people have a clear sense of purpose and direction and direction in every area of their lives'.
I will start with the story of a tourist in a small town who asked an old man,'Can you tell me anything this town is noted for? After a moment's
hesitation he repied,'Well you can start from here and go anywhere you want in the world'. You must have a sense of direction leading where you are going.
A direction to what you want to achieve. Have you considered the function of a compass.It gives direction to travellers.
Make use of your success compass to direct you in the right path,so that any effort you put will yeild a result.

Still move with me as we discuss some other laws in the next post.


Your comments are welcomed

Success Laws

OKey Chigbu

Everything in Life has a law governing it,so success is not an exception.
And laws are meant to be obeyed.
For success,it is a matter of choice.
Am i saying it is a matter of choice?
Yes because God put the power of choice in us,so you chooce whether to obey and succeed or not.
There are many laws of success,without wasting time lets look at a few of them.
- Law of Sowing and Reaping
This law takes its origin from the book of Galatia that says that whatsover a man sow,that he shall reap.
Now you may ask.what has it got to do with success? It has a lot.
I will simply put it that whatever determination or effort you put in any action you take,will determine your
result.
From the book of Proverbs we saw that too much sleep and laziness will result in poverty,meaning that hard work (NOt Hard Labour)
will make you rich.
So today dtermine to workhard,and you will reap success.

-Law of Belief : This law states that what ever you believe,with true feeling becomes your reality.
Does that point to something? Yes. Believe in yourself that God has endowed with you all the resources to be successful.
Don't limit yourself.Self limiting generates the two enemies of success which is Doubt and Fear.
Challenge the self-limiting beliefs that are holding you back,overcome them and get into action.
You will see amzing results.
We will consider the other laws in the next article.

I have added some qoutes below to assist you.

The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams--- Eleanor Roosvelt

What we can or cannot do,what we consider possible or impossible,is rarely a function of our true capability.It is more likely a function of
our beliefs about who we are ------------- Anthony Robbins

I will welcome you comments