What Did I Do Well This Year?

Give yourself credit.

I guess that like most people you did not achieve all your goals, hit all your targets or keep all your New Year Resolutions in 2012

If you did, well that's fantastic, well done and you are well on course to create the life of your dreams!

But if, like most of the human race you missed some of the goals, did not shed those pounds or kilos you wanted to say goodbye to, and the attendance at the gym petered out after a week or so, or whatever, do not give yourself a hard time but be grateful for the learning.  Now, take a pen and paper and WRITE DOWN, yes actually put on record in your own handwriting, what you did manage to do, whether it was on your original list or not.

For example:

You got up and went to work, more days than not, even if you felt like pulling the covers over your jead, or

You made those job applications, filled out the CV and answeredthe advertisemnts even though at the time you felt disheartened, or

You helped that parent struggling with the pushchair up the steps of the subway, or

You remembered your Mum's birthday, or anyone's special day and send a message or called them to say "hi" or.... you get the idea.

If you did this, actually wrote out some of your positive achievements, no matter how tiny they may seem,  over the past year I guarantee you will be feeling better about yourself and more confident.

If you have NOT done it yet, do so straight away and either way, write a comment below about the effect.

Tomorrow I will share a sure-fire way to continue this process and make 2013 your best year ever!

Much love and happiness form David.

Great Oaks from Little Acorns Grow

At this time of year many people think of New Year Resolutions, while reviewing the past year and setting goals for the year ahead.  How big to make those goals: Massive, grandiose goals which will require faith and determination to succeed, or tiny baby steps which seem almost insignificant in comparison?

Many  "Gurus" and motivational speakers will have you go for the former.  "Make them outrageous, reach for the stars and Think Big" they exhort.  "Get out of your comfort zone and dare to dream. If the goal doesn't scare you it's not big enough!"

I wonder how many people make those big, extravagant goals and end up carrying them forward year after year, saying "This Year I will definitely make it!  This year I will have the faith, the drive, the enthusiasm to write the book, launch the million dollar product, quit the job, start the speaking tour...etc,"  You get the idea

Every goal that is not met not only saps your confidence, but sends a message to you unconscious mind "These goals are not for real, they are just daydreams!"  Every year, every underachieved goal, every failed esolution, the same message of failure.  Surely there must be a better way to set and achieve goals, to set and keep resolutions?

We have already reviewed "The Compound Effect" by Darren Hardy.  To remind you, or in case you have not heard of it, he iterates the principle that Tiny changes, repeated consistently over time, produce massive effects.

You have probably heard the saying that "most people greatly overestimate what they can achieve in a year, but greatly underestimate what they can achieve in five years."

Now of all times it is good to remember this sage advice.  Do yourself a favour.  If you have not read The Compound Effect, do so now, and it is a must read for anybody even thinking about making a New Year Resolution.

Coffee - A Little Story to Start your Day!

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the co ffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coff ee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situ ation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May we all be COFFEE?


Thanks to my Dear Friend Olimpia Pop for this story.

3 Simple Tools to Boost Your Confidence

Confidence is something we would all like a little more of from time to time. Even the most confident people can feel out of their depth in some situations. If you are anything like me then you probably find yourself confident in most familiar situations, but perhaps get a little nervous when you are put into a new situation…or at least that is how I used to feel
This article is going to show you 3 simple and quick tools / methods you can use to boost your confidence. All of these things are quick boosts that you can do to help boost your confidence when you need it, and the more you use them the stronger your confidence will get in the long term, too.

The Darkest Hour is Just before The Dawn!

I never used to believe that old saying, but was reminded of it just yesterday.  A week ago the challenges were mounting up and there seemed no way forward. Would I be able to meet my commitments this week, let alone give my family and friends the gifts and good times I had planned for Christmas?  I was so down to my last cent that I delayed ordering my vitamin supplements so I had enough credit to fill up the car.

And yet, I somehow knew I would get through it, I was not sure how, but I had an inner confidence that a way would be found. 

Last weekend I signed up for Winning the Game of Money with John Assaraf's PraxisNow.  I used the installment plan even though I was not sure how I would find the later payments. I have used the program daily, repeating my affirmations each morning and the fog is starting to clear.  Some work I did a few weeks ago brought in nearly £15,000 (over $23,000) and other opportunities I had no idea of a few days ago offer the opportunity to achieve my financial goals months ahead of the planned time. 

The take home message?

Keep faith in yourself, and be grateful for every blessing.  Commit, and take action.

Ask for help, and partner with others.

Happy Christmas, or whatever Holiday you will be celebrating.

Mend Your Brain For 100 Per Cent Confidence!

I just had to share this awesome webinar!

You will know John Assaraf from The Secret, and here he delivers a free Brainathon to enable you to break through your own Glass Ceilings of Success, Happiness, Finances and Giving.

If you want to Be More, Have More and Give More you cannot afford to miss this Free Webinar.

Watch here as Top Internet Marketer Mike Koenigs interviews Jon Assaraf about the program.

This truly is an opportunity you cannot let go.  Your Investment?  Just your time, no cash or credit card needed.

Watch the interview here, less than 15 minutes that will change your life.

Confidence and Gratitude - The Relationship!

Yesterday my confidence was not high.

I had been hit by several major challenges at once, I was tearing around trying to fit everything in, and I was starting to feel overwhelmed. Then, as I sat in the car dealership where I had booked my car in for its pre-winter check I had time to check my emails on my phone while I sipped the complimentary cup of coffee.

As I paged through my emails I came across this message from Bob Proctor which put a smile back on my face.  Here it is: folksy, sentimental and possibly it did not happen exactly like that, but it contains an eternal truth ,one that even if we have already accepted it intellectually we all need to be reminded of, time and time again.  Or is that just me?

This is the story. Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Gratitude Napkins