"One thing I feel most passionately about: love of invention will never die."
-Karl Benz
"It's only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are without any self-deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events by which the path to success may be recognized." I Ching
Naked, undiluted reality can be a harsh or even bitter foe in confronting the conditions and challenges of our everyday life. On a global level, wars, natural disasters, disease, famine, political turmoil and terrorism can "take a toll on our soul" as we search for meaning by asking "why" things have to be this way.
On a personal level, the economy, our financial circumstance, illness, moments of family trials and turmoil and even routine disappointments can cause us to seek an escape to a better "reality" through fantasy, distraction, or simple denial.
I've shucked and ducked "reality" more times than I care to share or admit, even to myself. It's a human reaction but it doesn't have to be our only mechanism for maintaining our mental sanity and emotional stability.
"Reality" can also be a joyous recognition and embodiment of the beauty that surrounds our everyday existence-love, kindness, caring, sharing, and the opportunity for growth and achievement. The chance to make the world and the reality in which we live a better place. The opportunity to pursue our passions and our personal bliss.
Both realities exists within us and within the world. Our ability to shift our attention to what we focus on is an important coping mechanism or even an element to change our perception of the reality of "what is."
But before we can find our way in the world that exists and create a true and lasting reality in our lives we want-we must first face "what is" before moving onto what could and can be.
Looking only at the "good" while ignoring the "bad" might be a formula for short-term pleasure and pacification. Lasting happiness and meaning, however, can only come through recognizing the full reality in which we are while moving toward what reality we'd rather have and accept.
Subjective reality allows us to make sense of and give meaning to what already exists or what's already happened. We can make up our mind to be happy, to be positive, and to focus only on the "good" we see in the world. However, a made up mind is often blind-that same "positive" subjectiveness can often confine us to tolerating things only as they "are" while ignoring other possibilities as to what they could be.
Ayn Rand is quoted as saying, "We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality."
Objective reality is the ability to observe not only what was, what is, and what will be if we're willing to shine "our light" on the path to success as we define it. It means we have the courage not to ignore that which we don't want to see or to face. It means we're open to other possibilities and perceptions about what's going on in the world, in our lives, and within ourselves.
"Transformation begins with a willingness to let go of who and what we were."
Spike Humer
We can only change ourselves and the world through impartial and unprejudiced thinking separating what "is" from what and how we'd like things to be. Seek out dissenting opinions and differing perspectives about reality as you see it. Challenge your assumptions and beliefs by searching for contrasting conversations and counterexamples.
Let's be clear-I'm not advocating we argue for our "limitations" and liabilities. On the contrary; I am encouraging everyone to be an advocate of their own potentials and possibilities through an unbiased eye seeing what we have to do different in order to be different and have different.
It takes courage to be a "realist" but it doesn't mean we can't be visionaries and creators of our future and new realities.
It simply begins with looking into our own eyes and heart and saying, "here's where I am, here's what exists, here's what I want instead, and here's what I'm willing to do to change it"- STARTING NOW
Author: Spike Humer ... He's been the "go-to" guy for scores of individuals and business-owners around the world. Thousands of companies, organizations, and people looking for new growth and profitability for their businesses and increases in their personal success have turned to Spike and his advice through his programs, group mentoring, and personal consultations. His proprietary systems for generating new profits and his results-proven advice have been sought after by success-seeking people in over thirty countries.
Blog: http://www.spikehumer.com/
Business:
http://www.smallbusinessbreakthroughs.com
http://www.the10dayturnaroundbook.com
Personal:
http://onlinebusinessbreakthroughs.com/
"Wherever you are is always the right place. There is never a need to fix anything, to hitch up the bootstraps of the soul and start at some higher place. Start right where you are."
-- Julia Cameron
You can avoid boring your audience by varying the pitch and the volume and pace of your words. Use pause for drama.
Speak quickly to communicate your energy and enthusiasm, and then use a slower rate for emphasis.
You can also deliberately vary the structure of your sentences. A single word can have huge impact used on its own, particularly if it comes after a wordier segment.
All of these are keeping your audience hooked.
"The past is not your potential for potential has no bounds. Choose to break free from your self-imposed limits. Use your imagination to create a life of endless possibility. Experience your magnificence first hand."
--Frankie Picasso
"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want."
-- Ben Stein
"Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will
spread beyond all boundaries."
-- Corita Kent
True humor is fun - it does not put down, kid, or mock. It makes people feel wonderful, not separate, different, and cut off. True humor has beneath it the understanding that we are all in this together.
-Hugh Prather
Every day you hear people complain about the need for better time management, and when you take a close look at any one of these people, they clearly have habits (or ways of being) that are enormous time wasters. For instance, there are:
The Daydreamers: Daydreamers spend a good portion of their day wishing they had more time to do "fun" things. They tend to put off big tasks by performing smaller, more mundane items while they daydream and wish their time away. Then they end up working all night or on the weekends to meet deadlines.
The Optimists: The optimist is always underestimating the amount of time it will take to accomplish something, resulting in their constantly being over scheduled!
The Bobble Head Dolls: The bobble head doll is a compulsive "yes" person who says "yes" to everything! They don't know how to say "no" or they are afraid to say "no". Either way, the result is the same. They have more things piled on their plate than any one human-being can possibly accomplish!
The Perfectionists: The perfectionist crosses every "t" and dots every "i" nearly to a fault. While I advocate doing things right the first time, if you nit-pick, or if nothing is perfect unless it is done by you (or directed by you), your perfectionism is getting in the way of the time you have to do and have everything you say you want to do and have!
The Socialites: The socialite takes their need to connect with human-beings to an art form. While being "related" is a good thing, in and of itself, it is be a detriment when it gets in the way of the tasks at hand.
The Firefighters: The firefighter is always in a rush. Even when life and business is good, they are constantly frantic, and their forehead is bunched up in knots. Everything is a crisis... even if it isn't, and their franticness ends up draining a great deal of their time. They have simply forgotten how to slow down!
Do you see yourself in any one of these types of people?
You may actually see a bit of yourself in each one of these. Some days it may be your perfectionism that gets in the way of using time wisely, and the next day it may be daydreaming that stymies your progress.
The good news is that no matter which category you fit into, the tips for making the best of your time, and being better at time management, are all the same!
Related: 7 Time Management Tips That Actually Work
Tips for Better Time Management:
Take 10, 20, 30 minutes at the end of each day to put your plan for the next day down on paper.
Highlight the most important 3 or 4 tasks to be completed and do those tasks first. Don't allow yourself to get so bogged down in the "little" things that creep up that you run out of time for the "big" things.
Learn to say "no"
Before you say "yes" to anything, always check your own schedule and that of your family!
Be clear about your priorities; know what you want and what you don't want.
Stay organized; keeping the space around you organized will help to keep your head organized!
Take time for you!
Remember, being a better manager of your time isn't just about how to fit more into one day. It is about enjoying the time you have on this planet. It is about making the most out of the time you have so that you have time to sit back, relax and enjoy this crazy ride we call life! Our day is made up of 86,400 seconds... each one a moment in time that we can't ever recreate. Each one is unique and each one is valuable. So don't forget to make the most of those moments... to enjoy those moments... to enjoy your life.
....................................................
Clay Nelson has been coaching executives for over 30 years. Coaching from the core fact that growing people is the key to growing any business, Clay has helped countless business executives and their teams come together to not just improve their businesses, but to improve their lives.
Clay Nelson is also a well-regarded motivational and educational speaker, providing outstanding programs customized to the audiences he is speaking with. Able to speak on any number of topics within his noted specialties, Clay Nelson is known for moving audiences from the status quo to action as they create the businesses and lives they say they want to have.
For more information go to: http://www.claynelsonlifebalance.com
This free Personality Quiz uncovers who you are and your next step in life
It explores your blocks and potentials in life, your unique approach to life and what needs healing or expansion.
Try it here => http://bit.ly/NlmkM5
