Reach Your Goals

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:30:00 +0000

Each New Year brings the chance to start over. For some people they set goals and make New Year resolutions, but less than half of people who make New Year Resolutions actually fulfill them. If their goals are really important things they want to do, have, achieve or become, why is it that when they decide what they want (in every area of their lives) they don't get it?

Everyone can come up with a list of reasons why they didn't achieve what they wanted, but we have to learn to think of solutions to our problems, not finding someone or something to blame. This year, stop the cycle of resolving to make change, but then not following through. In this post, I'll give you some tips to help you avoid making the mistakes that prevent many people from achieving their goals (and keep their resolutions) in every area of life.

1. Your Goals MUST Be Yours

Decide what you want to accomplish (in every area of life). Don't be concerned about what others want for you. Follow (the desires of) your heart. Goals must be those things you really want to become, do, have or achieve (in every area of life) not a list of things you have made up to impress or please other people.

Tip: If the goal or dream doesn't come from your heart you could become unwilling to make sacrifices (e.g. sacrificing pleasure time), pay the price, or put forth the necessary effort required to achieve it. You will begin to feel forced to take action to reach your goals and this attitude can prevent you from reaching it. So, ensure that what you want to accomplish comes from your heart.

2. Write Your Goals (or New Year Resolutions) Down

One of the reasons many people don't reach their goals is simply because they are not written down either on paper (in a goal journal) or using a computer or Smartphone). Your goals (and New Year resolutions) MUST be written down in a way that is clear, easy to follow, and provides all the information you need at a glance. Whether you have a short-term, medium-term, or long-term goal, one of the keys to achieving them is to regularly review your goals/dreams each day so that you don't forget them (especially when it is going to take a long time to see results).

Tip: Reviewing your goals can only be done if they are written down.

If you need some guidance on how to put your goals down on paper in a way that is easy to follow, and provides all the information you need at a glance, let me provide some tips to help you:

i. Make a list of what you want to accomplish (do, have, achieve, become) in every area of life.

Here are the key areas of life: Business, Financial, Career, Physical, Health, Family, Social, Relationships, Personal, Fun, Adventure, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, and Ethical. You can add some areas of life when you think of them. As mentioned above make sure these things come from your heart, and be very specific.

Tip: Give no thought at this stage how you can afford it or how you'll ever achieve it. If you try to figure out the why's, when's, and how's (this is excessive reasoning), you will constrict and limit your beliefs in your ability to achieve them and possibly give up on the dream.

Looking too far into the future or trying to see all the steps, in the beginning, can make any goal can seem impossible to achieve. When God puts a dream in your heart He WILL make a way, even where there seems to be no way, and direct your steps. That’s what He is doing in my life right now!

ii. Come Up with Reasons Why You Want to Accomplish Your Goal

Write down as many as you can. And keep in mind that reading the reasons why you want to achieve your goal is an effective way to strengthen your motivation. So, read this list when your motivation is low or when you feel like giving up.

iii. Identify the Obstacles on Your Path

List everything that is preventing you from achieving your goal (in every area of life). This is very important. Only by writing down the reasons why you don't have it now will it crystallize your thinking and cause you to start thinking of solutions.

* Keep in mind that anyone who has accomplished what you want to accomplish had to surmount their own obstacles.

iv. Start Thinking of Solutions

Keep on seeking and you will find. (See Matthew 7:7-8). This means God expects us to keep on seeking the solutions to our problems (in every area of life). When you keep on asking you will receive (at the appointed day).

Beside each problem you write down, leave some space to insert the solution. Believe that every problem has a solution. Take time out to contemplate. Inquire within - listen to what God says within you. Only by silent contemplation can you learn to listen to the voice of God's Spirit in you that will guide you in the right direction every time. He will give you ideas so illuminating that success in whatever you are doing is a certainty.

Tip: Use solitude to put the pieces of the problem together. Taking time to think each day will help you to listen for ideas, advice, and the direction to take. So organize your life in a way that gives you enough time to think (preferably each day).

v. Develop a Plan of Action

Think about the steps you need to take to reach your goals (in every area of life). Keep learning and increasing in knowledge because lack of knowledge will prevent you from reaching your goals (in every area of life).

Tip: Before you devise a plan of action to take you to where you want to go (in every area of life) it is important that you point out the main obstacles you will encounter and how to overcome them.

That's why I recommend that you identify the obstacles to surmount before you start creating a plan of action. Also, listing these obstacles will give you a good idea about the order of the steps to take.

vi. Set Deadlines for Your Goals

Your deadlines must be realistic based on your goals. They don't have to be exact, but should be your best guess. The key is to give yourself enough time to accomplish what you've set out to do.

Keep in mind that deadlines must be handled with mature understanding. You can set and change them. They can be readjusted and reset similar to a plane's expected time of arrival having encountered bad weather.

Okay…this is a basic outline on how goals should look like when written down on paper (or whatever you use to set goals). Let’s continue…

Another thing you can do to ensure that you achieve your goals and keep your resolutions is to…

3. Overcome the Fear of Change

Attitude is a reflection of the person inside and if we want our world to change for the better then we must change first. To move forward (in every area of life) change cannot be avoided.

The truth is change (in every area of life) is uncomfortable and it is often met with some form of internal resistance. The comfort zone throws all kinds of resistance against it. However, we can control our future and direct change (in every area of our lives) by to having written goals we are committed to. The instant this is done the fear of change starts to dissipate as we become accustomed to goal-directed change. This is another reason why you should ensure that you develop the habit of writing your goals down (in every area of life) and be committed to them until they are achieved.

4. Remember Your "Reasons Why

A goal must make you excited and if there are no reasons to get excited then you should state your goal correctly. Sometimes people aren't short of goals but they are short of reasons why they want to achieve their goals. So, for each goal (in every area of life) write down why it is so important to you that you achieve it. This list is, in fact, a list of all the benefits to gain. When you see all the benefits and rewards you will receive from reaching your goal it should release the strong emotion we call desire. And when desire to get what you want (in every area of life) is harnessed it is sheer POWER.

5. Be Patient with Yourself and Your Goals

Stop shying away from tasks that are difficult and time-consuming because establishing goals and wants in a way that is clear and easy to follow is hard work. It requires concentrated effort and sometimes hours or days to refine. Also, keep in mind that we cannot force things to happen before they are meant to—and that can leave us feeling stuck and frustrated. During these "dry seasons" remember that just because you don't seem to be moving forward, doesn't mean that there's no movement "behind the scenes" in your life.

Resolve to keep moving forward, even if you're not seeing the results you desire (in every area of life), and keep reminding yourself (with your own words) that at the appointed day God will provide what you need to achieve your goals and dreams.

6. Set Goals with Realistic Expectations

This means being realistic not only in the outcomes, but also in the time factor. For some of your goals, the time frames won't matter as much and will really be up to you. While others will have an expiration date because of age, health, etc.

The problem is that when many people don't get the outcomes they anticipated before the deadlines they set, because they were unrealistic or not God's appointed time, they abort the whole mission.

Tip: Never be a slave to a deadline; always be a master. Deadlines can be set and changed.

7. Create a Plan of Action

Regardless of what you want to achieve (in every area of life) you must have a plan. As I mentioned before, establishing goals and wants in a way that is easy to follow is hard work. It takes hours or days to refine.

Since you’ll need time to plan, I urge you to work out how much time you spend reading the newspaper, mindlessly surfing the Internet, social networking, watching the adverts on television or watching violent programs each night. Then, limit your television-watching time to the programs that will help you to achieve a goal, limit social networking time to few minutes a day, and focus on one thing at a time when surfing the Internet. Once this is done, you'll have more time to invest in your planning time. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

To create a plan of action you can execute, breakdown your big goal into smaller manageable tasks. For each goal, write down the steps you need to take (based on the information you've gathered) to reach your goal. You can use these steps as a way to review your goals and to gauge your progress.

8. Finish What You Started

The instant you commit yourself to something is the instant you start achieving it. And until there is commitment, there will always be a way to avoid doing what is essential to achieve your goals (in every area of life).

With all the distractions surrounding us each day, it is very easy to go off course. These distractions can do anything to tempt you from being the individual you have planned to be, or tempt you off your path. What they cannot do, however, is get onto your path and stop you. All they can do is distract you onto theirs.

Tip: Leaving the path to your dreams is always your choice. So get rid of distractions and be determined to finish what you started (in every area of your life).

9. Take Action

Failing to take action wins the award for many not achieving their goals (and keeping their New Year resolutions). Your written plan with its "action steps to take" will tell you what you have to do to reach your goals (in every area of life), do it! If it means learning a new skill, learn it. If it means doing something you have never done before, do it!

Key Points

Your goals MUST be yours (do not set goals (or make New Year resolutions) just to impress others when they ask you about your goals.
Write your goals and New Year resolutions down (in a way that is easy to follow and provides all the information you need at a glance).
Overcome the Fear of Change
Remember your "reasons why"
Be patient with yourself and your goals
Set goals with realistic expectations
Create a plan of action.
Finish what you started.
Take action

You can achieve the goals you set for yourself this year. It depends on how committed, determined, disciplined, focused, motivated, and patient you are in doing the little things, each day. that take you where you want to be (in any area of life)
So, just keep on doing what is in the power of your hands to do each day, one step at a time, keep records (that is, record the progress you make so that you can review it regularly), and reward yourself for all the effort you put in to reach your goals (in every area of life).

If you have any comments or suggestions, I'll love to hear from you!

Every Step Counts

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:03:00 +0000

There is something more important than believing–action. Goals are not a wish; they are a vivid dream acted on. Understand that no goal can ever be achieved by wishful thinking or desire not followed by (painful) effort. We have to stop the mindless wishing that things would be different. Rather than wasting time and emotional and spiritual energy in explaining why we don't have what we want, we can start to pursue other ways to get it.

The problem is that it is often difficult to put one’s thoughts into action. As a result, the world is so full of dreamers and there aren’t enough people who will move ahead and begin to take steps (in the right direction) to achieve their dreams/goals (in every area of their lives). Moreover, many people tend to spend most of their time talking about their goals and plans but few are taking the steps necessary (each day) to make their dreams a reality (in every area of their lives). Many of us spend half our time wishing for things we could have if we didn't spend half our time wishing.

To solve this problem, you have to realize that one of the most important things you can do to achieve your goals is to ensure that the moment you set them, you begin to create momentum. Getting momentum going is the most difficult part of the job, and often taking the first step is enough to prompt you to make the best of your day.

Don’t delay taking action toward your dream (in every area of your life) because you are waiting for the “right moment” to start (when all the conditions are favorable). Begin where you are and whatever it is, do it! Your written plan with its “action steps to take” will tell you what you have to do to achieve your goals, don’t cheat yourself– do it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Also, you have to condition your mind to change (your) negative habits of thought (negative attitude) toward the effort you must exert to obtain your goal. That’s why you have to write down some conditioning statements for each goal you set (in every area of your life). Either write them down on paper (preferably in your goal journal) or use your Smartphone.

For instance, let’s say your dream is to speak a foreign language (be specific). Here are some sample conditioning statements you can write down and repeat each statement at least five times (with breaks at intervals of about 8-10 seconds) each time you think about this dream. This should give your mind enough time to imagine (form mental images about) what you just affirmed.

1. I am willing to take steps each day to speak fluent English/Spanish/ French/ German…

2. I love the effort which I must exert to speak fluent English/Spanish/ French/ German…

3. I am determined to speak fluent English/Spanish/ French/ German…

4. I am taking steps toward speaking fluent English/Spanish/ French/ German…

5. Today brings me one step closer to speaking fluent English/Spanish/ French/ German…

6. I enjoy each step I take on the way to speaking fluent English/Spanish/ French/ German…

7. I love speaking fluent English/Spanish/ French/ German…etc.

Keep in mind that everyone who has ever achieved what they want did so only because they desired to, planned to, and made the necessary effort to achieve their goals (in every area of their lives).

The Least You Need to Know

1. Goals are not a wish; they are a vivid dream acted on.

2. No goal can ever be achieved by wishful thinking or desire not followed by (painful) effort.

3. Once you have the momentum you’ll become unstoppable.

4. Begin where you are and whatever it is, do it!

5. Your written plan with its “action steps to take” will tell you what you have to do to achieve your goals (in every area of your life). So, don’t cheat yourself, do it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

TIP: FOCUS ON THE PROCESS, NOT THE DESTINATION

Love the Effort You Must Exert to Get What You Want

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Anyone who deeply desires to do/ have/ achieve/ or become anything (in every area of their life) LOVES the effort which he/she MUST exert to obtain their desire. Developing a strong desire to achieve/ get what you want (in every area of your life) is NOT enough — it MUST be paid for in strokes of daily effort.

The problem is that many people have a strong desire to do/ achieve/ have something but are reluctant to pay the price in daily effort. They have tremendous desires which they wish to obtain by wishful thinking or by having someone else make it easy for them. As a result, you see other characteristics in their features: you see laziness, weakness, and frustration there. You do not see in such a face the strength of a man/ woman who will go out there to get what he/ she wants with love of every effort of it.

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands…so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."—1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV)

Moreover, you may lack incentive for effort to get what you want (in every area of your life) simply because your desire is weak. Lesser desire lessens the effort. As a result, drudgery and monotony then creeps into ability instead of love, and the work toward achievement ceases long before the man/woman of intense desire even thinks of tiring.

"You got to like your work. You have got to like what you are doing, you have got to be doing something worthwhile so you can like it — because it is worthwhile, that it makes a difference, don't you see?" — Harland Sanders

To solve this problem, take some time (about 15 - 30 minutes) to think about what the goal/ dream/ task/ or project means to you (before you take a step each day), and the benefits you will gain from completing it. Then, tell yourself that you love your work and the effort you exert to get what you want; let yourself begin to feel excited and emotional about it, and in no time you should be feeling ready to do what you have planned to do.

Furthermore, write down many "I love the effort" statements for each goal you set (in every area of your life) to change how you feel about your work. To help you with this activity, I've listed a few examples below (in every area of life):

Statements

1. I love the effort which I must exert to become a savvy/ smart investor.

2. I love the effort which I must exert to become financially literate.

3. I love the effort I must put forth to make my business (be specific) succeed.

4. I love the effort I must put forth to make an A grade in this (be specific) course.

5. I love the effort which I must exert to find a job.

6. I love the effort I must put forth to become an excellent engineer/ doctor/ lawyer/ professional speaker/ teacher …

7. I love the effort which I must expend to earn a Master's degree in … (be specific).

8. I love the effort which I must expend to get back in shape…

9. I love the effort which I must put forth to become a romantic husband/ wife …

10. I love the effort I must expend to speak fluent German/ Spanish/ English/ French/ Japanese/ Chinese …

11. I love the effort I must put forth to break/ kick this (be specific) bad habit.

12. I love the effort I must put forth to overcome this (be specific) addiction.

13. I love the effort which I must exert to become spiritually mature.

14. I love the effort I must exert to do the things that are pleasing in God's eyes.

15. I love the effort I must exert to improve my writing/ drawing/ speaking skills …

The Bottom Line: When you are involved in what you really want to do/ achieve (in every area of your life) your work becomes a "labor of love" and you enjoy a wonderful sense of satisfaction when you have completed it.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

7 Ways to Overcome the Fear of Paying the Price

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:50:00 +0000

Many people never dream of reaching their goals because of the fear of paying the price. This is usually during the planning and preparation stages when they allow the negative voices in their mind to convince them that they don't have what it takes to get what they want ( in every area of their lives), or that what they want to achieve is impossible.

“To be successful, you must decide exactly what you want to accomplish, and then resolve to pay the price to get it.” - Bunker Hunt

Keep in mind that the more you question your ability to do what you've planned to do, the more self-doubt gets a strong grip on your mind and it can begin to dampen your enthusiasm and motivation. As a result, it makes the thought of paying a price of any kind so daunting.

To solve this problem, here are 7 tips to help you overcome the fear of paying the price to get what you want (in every area of your life).

1. Set worthy goals based on what you really want

We become more willing to do whatever it takes to achieve our goals when we know its worth –the difference it could make in our lives and others. The truth is that when you have worthy goals based on what you really want (in every area of your life), there is a more satisfying feeling stemming from an inherent realization that you are becoming what you want to be. For this reason, I believe, you'll be more willing to pay the price to reach your goals.

2. Believe it's possible

We only see what we believe, and until we believe we can have something, we won't see it. Moreover, when you believe what you want to achieve is possible, it is seen by your actions. As you start planning and taking steps toward your goals and dreams, you'll start attracting the people and opportunities in harmony with your beliefs which you overlooked before.

Consequently, these events will strengthen your resolve to continue doing what you can do (keep in mind that you are not alone), increase your desire to achieve, and I believe, you'll be willing to pay any price to get what you want (in every area of your life).

3. Identify the price you have to pay

Knowing the price helps you to prepare psychologically and physiologically as to the resolve and discipline. This helps you to decide whether you want to pay it or not. So, take time to identify the price you have to pay to achieve each goal you set for yourself (in every area of your life) – write it down in your goal journal.

4. Compare the price to the main benefits from achieving your goal

This is probably the most important way to overcome the fear of paying the price. To achieve your goals you have to make sacrifices whether in the form of pleasure time or putting forth the effort to learn new skills, etc. To motivate yourself to pay this price, compare it to the major benefits you'll receive from achieving your goals (in every area of your life), and you'll see just how small the price is.

5. List many reasons why you want to achieve the goal

If there are no reasons for why you want a goal, if there are no rewards or benefits, then you have an empty goal. The problem is that sometimes people are short of reasons why they want to achieve a goal. If you cannot list more than three reasons ask yourself if you really want it. Perhaps you want it for someone else, or because you think it may impress. You have to ensure that the goal you set makes you excited and that you have good reasons for wanting it.

6. Develop a strong desire to achieve your goal

Desire is most likely the starting point of all achievement. For this reason, it is important that you develop a deep down burning desire to achieve your goals and also know how to generate it. If your desire is strong enough it will be followed by willing effort, and this should help you to overcome the fear of paying the price – because he/she who deeply desires anything loves the effort which he/ she must put forth to obtain his/her desire, but he/she whose desire is weak lacks incentive for effort and therefore, makes none.

7. Strive for excellence

Many people tend to do things that are easy and shy away from difficult and time-consuming tasks. As a result, they find it difficult committing to long-term goals or very big projects that will take time to show results – because there seems to be no obvious payoff from the action steps they take every day.

If you have the habit of avoiding difficult/ time-consuming tasks I urge you to break it without delay. Furthermore, instead of focusing on just "getting stuff done" each day, when you are working on a big project or a long-term goal, you should strive to do your best in everything you do (in every area of your life). When this has become a second nature to you, your sense of delight, happiness, pleasure, joy, accomplishment, and satisfaction will increase, and you will become more motivated to do whatever it takes and pay any price to maintain high quality in everything you do.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

25 Goal-Attainment Principles to Keep in Mind Every Day

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:31:00 +0000

I hope by now that you have developed the habit of goal setting. You should have daily, weekly, and monthly goals. The good news is that as you keep on adding new goals (in every area of your life), and write them down on paper in a way that is clear, easy to follow, and providing all the information you need at a glance, it becomes easier to develop this (success) habit. Keep in mind that only by persistently and consistently taking action over and over again will you build the habit of goal-setting.

Of course, it takes some degree of discipline in building new habits but the discipline required becomes easy when you begin to achieve numerous goals (in every area of your life) and this not only builds your confidence, self-esteem and self-worth but also creates the habit of success, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Now, I’ve found that sometimes we lose our motivation to achieve our goals simply because we forget certain key (goal-attainment/ Biblical /success) principles. To solve this problem, I’ve listed below some of the key principles you should keep in mind when you get up in the morning to help you achieve your goals (in every area of your life):

1. Your goals must be clearly and specifically defined

To exemplify this principle, hold a magnifying glass near a piece of paper and with the sun shinning through it, the paper will burn. In the same way, you won’t catch fire so to speak until you clearly define what you want (in every area of your life) and focus on it.

2. Remember the “reasons why”

Achieving your goal must have a significant importance to you. If there are no reasons for why you want to achieve a goal, if there are no benefits or rewards, then you have a meaningless goal.

3. Wait with expectancy

We can’t force things to happen before they are meant to – and that can leave us feeling frustrated and stuck. During these dry seasons, however, remember that just because you don’t seem to be moving forward doesn’t mean that there is no movement happening behind the scenes. At the appointed time, God WILL SUDDENLY SHOW YOU what He’s been doing – sending the breakthrough you need. So keep on doing what you can do, and He’ll do what you cannot do – remember, He’s always faithful.

4. Overcome the fear of change

The way to control your future and direct your change (in every area of your life) is to have written goals. The instant this is done the fear of change (in every area of your life) starts to dissipate as you become accustomed to goal-directed change.

5. Your goals MUST be written down

Written goals are very important. They create a psychological commitment and provide a guide for you to stay on course. Moreover, reviewing your goals can only be done if they are written down.

6. Commit yourself to your goal

The instant you commit yourself to something is the instant you start achieving it.

7. Develop a clear plan of action

Without a plan you will never achieve what you are potentially capable of.

8. Give yourself a reward

Reward yourself on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Make the reward something you really enjoy, like a few hours to relax and do what you love or buying something you like. However, be sure to follow through and really give yourself the reward when you complete what you set out to do! Don’t fool yourself into believing it was just a trick to get you moving; your mind will remember that little deception next time.

9. Describe each goal in its completed state

Imagine yourself in front of an audience talking about your future achievements (in every area of your life) as if you’d already accomplished them. Share your strategies for success, highlight the challenges you faced and reveal the state of mind that enabled you to overcome them.

10. Rehearse with your imagination first

Any difficult situation, no matter what: speaking in public, or going for an interview, rehearse in your imagination first. Moreover, use this “practice arena” to see yourself having already achieved what you want (in every area of your life).

11. Take action daily

Your written plan with its schedule of priorities will tell you what you have to do so you don't cheat yourself, do it! No matter how good your goal or your plan is, and no matter how much you visualize it, if you are not prepared to take positive action (daily) toward your goal then you are just fooling yourself.

12. Just begin

Once you have the momentum you will become unstoppable. Consistency creates momentum and momentum is sustained through consistency.

13. Obey your inner voice

Only by silent contemplation can you learn to listen to your inner voice that will guide you in the right direction every time. This is the voice of God’s Spirit in us. If you will obey Him and do what He tells you to do every step of the way, then nothing will be able to keep you from achieving your goals and dreams.

14. Believe in yourself

Belief can carry you far. It can make you do the seemingly impossible.

15. Eliminate distractions

Let go of distractions, they do not bring satisfaction. They are designed to test you – to see if you really want what you want. These distractions can do anything to tempt you from being the individual you have planned to be, to tempt you off your path. However, they cannot get onto your path and stop you – all they can do is distract you on to theirs. Leaving the path to your dream is always your choice.

16. Pay the price

You have to make sacrifices whether in the form of pleasure time or saving for something, but by identifying the price, you can decide if you want to pay it. Keep in mind that the price for achieving poor results is much greater than that for achieving extraordinary results.

17. Focus on one thing at a time

Whatever you do, do it with ALL your power - divided attention, divided power.

18. Take time to think

By calling a halt, being still and listening, your load will be eased - you will see how best to complete your work without effort, and get new ideas to help you improve what you are doing (in every area of your life).

19. Use your time wisely

Time is our most equitably distributed resource but some people spend it more wisely than others. Stop wasting your time doing unimportant and unnecessary activities – invest the time you are saving in your planning time.

20. Accept that God’s in control

We usually waste time by being upset over stuff we cannot do anything about – things only God can change. Instead, focus your attention on the countless times God has guided and provided, as well as protected and directed your life. This will release peace, create hope and put out the fire of your fears.

21. Be relentless in the pursuit of your goal

Relentless means showing no abatement of severity, intensity, strength or pace in what you’re trying to accomplish. If you want to achieve your goals, you are going to have to do more than just talk about them – you are going to have to be relentless in your pursuit of them.

22. Be determined

We have to be determined. It is a decision each and every one of us has to make for ourselves. We need to have a powerhouse determination and no one can do that for us. When it comes down to it, we have to do the doing.

23. Find solutions to the problems you face

Don’t waste time “reasoning why you can’t”, instead intuitively find out how you can.

24. Develop persistence

The key to victory is continuing to do the right thing with the right attitude and refusing to quit

25. Learn more to grow

Knowledge is the seed for change (in every area of your life).

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

Plan and Prepare Diligently Before You Begin

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:17:00 +0000

In order to get the results you want (in every area of your life), you must desire to, plan to, and make the necessary effort to get it. You have to plan every step upward to your own high mountaintop, and it is worth mentioning that a good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there.

Here are 25 key reasons why you should plan and prepare diligently before you begin taking steps toward your goals (in every area of your life):

1. That's what the scripture says: "Write the vision; make it plain upon tablets so he may run who reads it…" — Habakkuk 2:2 (RSV)

2. Courage and confidence to do what you've planned (in every area of your life) comes through practice.

3. It helps you to prepare yourself psychologically in terms of resolve and discipline. And knowing the price to pay (for example, learning new skills) helps you to accomplish this.

4. The price for achieving poor results is much greater than that for achieving extraordinary results.

5. Just by simply starting to do what you have planned will create an ability to do which will increase your confidence and courage.

6. It motivates you to take action and do whatever it takes to achieve what you want.

7. A written plan of action creates a psychological commitment to your goals (in every area of your life). Without it there will always be distractions to tempt you off the path that leads to the attainment of your goals.

8. A written plan of action helps you to prioritize your work and set deadlines.

9. A written plan serves as a measure of the progress you make toward the attainment of each goal you set (in every area of your life).

10. A written plan of action provides a guide to help you stay on course.

11. Reviewing your goals and plans can only be done if they are written down.

12. When you spend time thinking about what you want to accomplish (in every area of your life) and write them down on paper, it stimulates your imagination and this in turn increases your creativity to assist you in a successful completion of it.

13. "Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure." –Confucius

14. Diligent planning and preparation gets you ready for your opportunity when it comes.

15. To be prepared is half the victory.

16. Getting ready is the secret to success.

17. Talent alone won't make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready.

18. Study and preparation have to be done before opportunities can be capitalized on.

19. Chance favors the mind that is prepared. You will not see opportunities that stare you in the face, until the time arrives when the mind is ripened even though they are there for you all the time.

20. To quote Benjamin Franklin: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

21. It helps you to achieve what you are potentially capable of. To develop our potential properly, we must have a purpose and a plan, and we must be doing something to fulfill it.

22. You have to plan and prepare carefully so that when you recognize the opportunity that is consistent with what you want (in every area of your life) you are ready for it. With no written goals and plans how will you recognize it?

23. Today's preparation determines tomorrow's achievement.

24. It is not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.

25. Diligent planning and preparation to achieve your goals (in every area of your life) is the price you have to pay to win.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

Take Immediate Action

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:24:00 +0000

It is the beginning of a task that is more difficult than continuing once the momentum has been created. Once you have the momentum you will become unstoppable; consistency creates momentum and momentum is sustained through consistency. Moreover, the instant you commit yourself to something is the instant you start achieving it. And until there is commitment, there will always be a way back or a way to avoid doing what is essential to the attainment of your goals.

The problem is that commitment is not something that we can manufacture – it is something that we discover deep down within us. I must admit that I was a procrastinator before I developed the habit of putting my goals down on paper and keeping a goal journal. And to be honest, if there is one habit that’s changed my life so much over the years is simply the habit of having written goals. I can’t list all the benefits here, but one thing I can tell you is that by writing each goal down on paper (in a goal journal), developing a plan of action and setting immediate deadlines for the completion of each task, it creates a psychological commitment to the goals I set for myself. If you have problems doing this, clickhere for some tips.

“Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today.” - English Proverb

Moreover, since I want to meet the deadline for each goal (although sometimes I have to readjust it due to unforeseen setbacks), I ensure that I do everything I can to meet it. And just by making a start I become unstoppable. The reason I'm telling you this is to let you know that it will be more difficult to break the habit of procrastination without written goals because they have the power to create the psychological commitment you need for the attainment of your goals (in every area of your life). This is one of the benefits putting your goals down on paper (in a goal journal) will do for you. Also, this habit will help you to prioritize your work so that you can learn to do the right thing at the right time and avoid putting things off.

“Tomorrow is always the busiest day of the week.” - Spanish Proverb

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that some people delay taking action for reasons such as:

· They’re waiting for everything to be perfect – when every obstacle has been removed.

· They’re waiting to get everyone’s approval – especially when it doesn’t count.

· They resist making adjustments when changing circumstances make their plans obsolete.

· They are unwilling to do activities they don’t enjoy.

· They hesitate doing activities they aren’t good at doing.

· They hesitate doing things that they know will waste their time.

· They hesitate to solve situations whose outcomes they dread, for example, confrontation.

· They want to see all the steps to take, so they keep wondering how they’ll ever accomplish what they want.

· They wait until their fear subsides.

· They convince themselves that it will be unpleasant and boring

· They avoid activities that don’t align with their vision or values– especially when faced with opportunities that cause them to drift from their purpose… and so on.

The truth is once you take the first step and start moving forward, everything becomes clearer and easier. It may be a cliche to say that every journey begins with a single step, but it’s true. Don’t wait for “the right time to begin” when everything is perfect, or for all your problems and obstacles to disappear before you move forward, or until your fear subsides. If momentum gets strong enough, problems will begin to take care of themselves and new opportunities will arise. That’s what I call “No action, No miracle”.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has power, magic, and genius in it.” – Goethe

And boldness comes from knowing that God is always with you (wherever you go). So, give yourself an allotted time in your plan, today, to do what you have been putting off. Stop convincing yourself that it will be unpleasant and boring. Start taking steps, even if they are small steps, in the direction of your goals. When you say “later” to something that is important to you – that will take you one step closer to the attainment of your goals, you are cheating yourself. This is surely one of the highest forms of self-irresponsibility, and one of the major factors preventing people from achieving what they want.

So, it is crucial to your success that you start putting an end to procrastination by taking immediate action.

Gerard Ndzebir

Give Yourself Reasons Why You Can

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:15:00 +0000

Each one of us has an internal dialogue, an inner conversation going on with ourselves. In fact, we talk more to ourselves than we do to anybody else. The problem is that this conversation is often negative and it can reduce our desire to do anything.

Furthermore, it is easy to focus on the reasons why we can't do, have, buy, achieve, and become what we want (in every area of our lives) instead of giving ourselves all the reasons why we can do what they want.

For instance, consider someone whose goal is to lose weight and get back in shape. Instead of giving themselves reasons why they can lose weight and get back in shape, they start to give themselves reasons why they can't achieve their goal. Things like:

· I'm not that disciplined

· I lack the determination

· I love food; I just can't resist it - I’m a good cook you know.

· I'm so lazy; I don't think I'll make it.

· I hate to exercise

· I don't have enough time, I'm too busy.... and so on

When we keep our mind on what we want we ignore the obstacles on our path because we know there is a solution to every problem, and at the appointed time we'll find it. The reason we doubt is because we don't keep our mind on what we want. As a result, it thwarts our ability to think of the solutions to the problems we face, and how to get, do, achieve, buy and become what you want.

To solve this problem, always keep your thoughts on what you want, not what you don't want, and ensure that you write down all the reasons why you can do, have, achieve, buy, and become what you want (in every area of your life): Financial, business, career, physical, health, family, social, relationships, personal, fun, adventure, mental, emotional, spiritual, and ethical.

Then, review these reasons frequently every day - especially when you begin to think negatively about the attainment your goals.

Do the following exercise:

1. Take a goal from each area of your life (ideally, these should be the written goals in your goal journal)

2. Identify the negative/ limiting thoughts that fill your mind with doubt and worry. These thoughts will give you a clue on why you think the way you do, even though it is leading you away from what you want. Then....

3. List the reasons why you can do what you want (in every area of your life) down in your goal journal to keep them in one place, and for easy review.

4. List the reasons why you can have what you want (in every area of your life).

5. List the reasons why you can buy what you want (in every area of your life).

6. List the reasons why you can achieve what you want (in every area of your life).

7. List all the reasons why you believe you can become what you want (in every area of your life).

8. After writing down all these reasons, read them out loud and think seriously about what you just affirmed. And when you affirm that you can do, have, achieve, buy, and become what you want, don't try to figure out how it'll ever happen. If you do this you'll doubt in your heart, and as a result, you won't have what you say. Have faith in God, and believe that what you say will be done.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

7 Ways to Motivate Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:45:00 +0000

Motivational tips vary in their effectiveness depending on your mood and current state of mind. That's why a tip that worked for you yesterday may not be as effective today. Therefore, be willing to try something new if you feel uninspired by some suggestions. There are many more ways to motivate yourself than I could possibly list, but the following should get your creative juices flowing:

1. Make a to-do list

If your tasks seem too many and overwhelming you should make a detailed list of everything you want to accomplish today (keep in mind that you have to plan the next day the night before). Ideally, what you write on this list should take you one step closer to each (high priority) goal in your goal journal. (Remember, having written goals help you to prioritize your work, set deadlines, and monitor your progress).

2. Pray

Worry never fixes anything and it is a bad habit we have to break. The problem is that we easily get into the habit of negative thinking and/ or dwelling on negative outcomes. As a result, our minds become filled with worry, fear, and doubt. The good news is that to every problem there is a solution - pray. With thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And His peace will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) And whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you'll have them. (Mark 11:24) Then, start acting like you've received (by faith) what you asked for because faith without corresponding actions is dead.

3. Avoid negative people

During your day be with the right people. Avoid moaners and gossipers. Birds of a feather flock together - if you spend time with cynical and negative people all the time, you will become cynical and negative. Until you reach a level in your personal & spiritual development that you no longer allow people to affect you with their negativity, you need to reduce the amount of time you spend time with the toxic people in your life. To do this, you have to identify these people, so take a moment to write down the names of the negative/ toxic people in your life.

Furthermore, if there's no one to talk to, then read. Continue to feed your mind with what you want and switch your focus to positive thoughts/ feelings/ beliefs/ opinions/ views/ way of behaving. This tip may take a little longer to show results, but it is well worth the effort!

4. Read or watch something funny

Laughter is the best medicine. It releases endorphins which provide natural pain relief and this has a positive benefit on mental function. So, start your day by making yourself laugh. Read a funny book, jokes, or a 30-minute sitcom on television. Being happy now means making yourself laugh more often, not a chuckle or a grin, but a really big belly laugh.

Moreover, practice smiling in front of a mirror every day for at least 30 seconds. After the initial embarrassed feeling you'll feel great about yourself. :)

5. Play a game

Playfulness, like laughter, can boost your mood and refresh your body. It could be a video game, board game or whatever you like. I always experience a great mental energy boost after playing my favorite video game (especially when it’s been a very long time since I played it). The truth is that play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn't taste good.

6. Have confidence in yourself

Never say: "I can't do it because I don't know how to do it". Start doing it and you'll learn how to do it in the doing of it. Moreover, develop an "I will" attitude and "I can" awareness. Don't let self-created obstacles of self-doubt defeat you before you start. Believe you have what it takes to do, have, achieve, buy, and become what you want (in every area of your life).

Keep in mind that it is starting a task that requires more effort than continuing once the task is in full swing. And developing a state of mind of "I can" and "I will" builds the self-confidence to be able to start it.

7. Develop a focused mind

Focus on one day/ week/ month/ goal/ thought/ activity/ at a time. Never allow your focus to be eroded by distractions, worries about the future or regrets about the past. Blot out other thoughts from your mind and focus ONLY on what you're doing right NOW. Give all your attention to the present task and everything you do. It definitely takes practice to master this technique but once you do, you'll develop a whole new appreciation for the power of a focused mind …and life.

Stay Motivated & Positive,

Gerard Ndzebir

How to Imagine the Outcome You Want

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:15:00 +0000

The “big picture” is the end result or the outcome you want. You have to accomplish mentally what you want before you can accomplish it materially, and it is worth mentioning that successful people from all walks of life rehearse in their mind's eye first. They literally practice in their imagination. They see the end result.

The problem is that as the picture of reality is so vivid in your mind it can often neutralize the picture you are attempting to establish. Moreover, what you do at the moment may not be your vocation, but they are vehicles to it. As a result, is easy to get snagged on the little task you have to do presently and lose sight of the “big picture” – the end result of what you are working toward.

To solve this problem, you have to revisit the end result of the dream/goal frequently, and remind yourself that the small steps you take daily are leading you in the right direction toward the attainment of your goal. Yes, you are the one to do this activity; you can’t hire other people to do your push–ups for you, if you catch my drift. :) Besides, achieving your goal is very important to you, otherwise you wouldn’t have set out to achieve it.

When Should You Imagine the Outcome You Want?

Take time to imagine the end result of what you want in the following circumstances:

1. When reviewing your goal journal every morning before you take the next step for each goal (in every area of your life).

2. When your energy, determination, enthusiasm or interest begins to falter.

3. When you notice that you are not as excited about your dream/goal anymore as you were in the past because it seems to be taking a long time.

4. When all you can see is the number and size of the obstacles on your path.

5. When you begin to feel like you don’t have what it takes to do, have, achieve, buy, and become what you want (in every area of your life).

Why Should You Imagine the Outcome You Want?

Taking some time (out of your busy schedule) to imagine the outcome you want may look insignificant initially, but in the long run, failure to do this activity it will affect your mood and the attainment of your goals negatively in many ways. Some include:

1. You may begin to take your eyes off your goals and as a result, you’ll see the number and size of those “frightful” things we call obstacles.

2. Your energy, determination, enthusiasm or interest may begin to falter as lack of belief grows.

3. You may begin to question your abilities, convince yourself that you don’t have what it takes to make your dream a reality, and that what you want to undertake will not happen how you want it to.

4. You may give up pursuing your dream simply because it is still far off a distance and it seems like it is going to take a long time.

Imagining the Outcome You Want

There is a right way to do this, and a wrong way to do it. If you’ve ever tried to visualize the outcome you want for each of your goals/dreams but don’t really see an image in your mind, and/or it never leaves you feeling like the person who has accomplished what you want, you’re probably doing this activity the wrong way.

Many people have complained to me that they find doing affirmations and visualizing the outcome they want boring. They tell me it is because they don't see immediate results - the picture of reality is still vivid in their minds and it neutralizes the pictures they're trying to create. If you’re experiencing the same problems, endeavor to do the following activity (preferably every day).

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Write down each of your goals and objectives on paper (ideally these should be the written goals in your goal journal). That’s why I always urge you to put all your goals down on paper. This is one of the most important habits you should form.

2. Take one goal /dream at a time, close your eyes, and describe it in its completed state. The mistake many people make is that is that they don’t open their mouth to describe the goal in its completed state when they close their eyes to visualize the outcome they want.

Moreover, describe it as if you are speaking to an audience; highlight the challenges you faced, reveal the mindset that enabled you to overcome them, and share your strategies for success. This should create a visual image of that completed goal in your mind because the creative subconscious doesn’t think in words – it can only think in pictures.

Try this method and it will not only create the mental images you want, but also leave you feeling like the person who has achieved what you want at the end of your “talk”.

3. To fuel these mental images of the completed goal with emotion, also describe any sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings associated with each goal.

Visualize, imagine, concentrate, on what you want, see it! See it vividly and your feelings will respond in a positive way.

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” - Henry David Thoreau

4. After you’ve imagined the outcome you want, start moving toward your goal by making the next task you do a step in the right direction.

Key Points to Remember

· When you close your eyes to imagine the outcome you want, open your mouth and describe the goal in its completed state. Don’t make the mistake of keeping it shut.

· You have your own practice arena (in your mind) to use all the time, so make use of it.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

Concentrate on One Thought at a Time

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:05:00 +0000

You cannot have a feeling or emotion without first having experienced a thought. Your thoughts are entirely yours to keep, change, share, or contemplate. The problem is that scattered thoughts can make any task seem more taxing, and it decreases your mental power. The good news is that you have the power to control your thoughts, train your mind to focus on one thought at a time, and let go of unimportant random thoughts.

“The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through.” – Harry A. Overstreet

Moreover, you may have nagging thoughts and/or worries about the future that distract you from giving 100% attention to the task at hand. As a result, they decrease your concentration and make it difficult to focus on one thought/activity at a time.

To solve this problem, start each day by taking at least 30 minutes to put all these thoughts down on paper (in every area of your life): financial, career, physical, health, family, social, personal, fun, adventure, mental, emotional, spiritual, and ethical.

For instance, you may have voices in your mind telling you that working on your goal is a waste of time because you simply don’t have what it takes to succeed. Perhaps they're telling you that you will not get the positive results you are expecting, or that your dream will not become a reality because it is taking a long time… and so on.

As you write these thoughts down, don’t worry about making them neat or orderly; just scribble them on paper. Then, affirm that you are setting them aside so you can better focus on the task at hand. Eventually, you’ll train your mind to concentrate on one activity/thought/task at a time and to let go of unimportant random thoughts.

I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about? –Henry Ford

Key Points to Remember

· Concentrate on one thought at a time, one action at a time, one goal at a time: the more you concentrate, the less time you will have for frustration.

· Worry never fixes anything. When you do what you can do, God will do what you cannot do.

Stay Motivated & Positive,

Gerard Ndzebir

Overcoming Doubt

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:55:00 +0000

Our way of thinking and rationalization can create our own self-limiting beliefs for why we cannot do, have, achieve, buy, and become what we want (in every area of our lives). We easily deceive ourselves more than others simply because we choose to give ourselves reasons why we cannot do something or reasons why what we want to undertake will not turn out how we want it to be. And that’s why it is true that no one can impede your progress as surely and impeccably as you can.

Moreover, because of self-doubt created by questioning your abilities it is easier to believe that things are not all possible; that you don’t have what it takes to do, have, achieve, buy, and become what you want (in every area of your life). As a result, self-doubt gets a strong foothold and starts to deplete your enthusiasm, motivation, energy, determination, discipline, and desire to get what you want as your lack of belief grows. What’s interesting is that if no one told you any different you would believe you could. If you were given 100% assurance you would believe you could do, have, achieve, buy, and become what you want.

“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we might win, by fearing to attempt.” –William Shakespeare

The good news is that as you start inevitably pulling away from those self-limiting and negative beliefs you become stronger in self-confidence and start being aware, or conscious of the positive improvement evolving within you. You have to understand that anyone can unconsciously slip into the habit of negative thinking. This habit can be overcome when you view yourself objectively, recognize you are doing it, discover the underlying cause of the negative thinking and replace it with a positive one.

“We cannot always control our thoughts, but we can control our words, and repetition impresses the subconscious, and we are then master of the situation.”--Florence Scovel Shinn

Constant repetition carries conviction. It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen. That’s why you must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be. Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes, and cannot tell the difference between what is real and a vividly imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.

So, I urge you do the following exercise (preferably every day) to help you develop an “I can” and “I believe” state of mind.

1. Take a goal from each area of your life (ideally this should be the written goals in your goal journal): business, financial, career, physical, health, family, social, relationships, personal, fun, adventure, mental, emotional, spiritual, and ethical.

2. Tell yourself that you believe you can do, have, achieve, buy, and become what you want (in every area of your life). Include the word “I believe” so that the negative voices in your mind would not question your affirmation, and (it’s possible) to instill on your subconscious mind that what you want is possible.

For instance, I believe I can become a financial literate and (it’s possible), I believe I can get a new job (be specific) this month and (it’s possible), I believe I can invest $ 100 or something better (be specific) every month and (it’s possible), I believe I can have a degree in any area of interest (be specific) and (it’s possible) , I believe I can start the career of my dreams (be specific) and (it’s possible), I believe I can have a PhD in my field of interest and (it’s possible), I can eat a balanced diet every day and (it’s possible) , I can concentrate on one thing at a time, I can control how I think, feel, and act in difficult circumstances, I believe I can become emotionally stable, I believe I can develop a personal relationship with God and (it’s possible), I believe I can overcome this addiction (be specific) and (it’s possible), I believe I can become a man/woman of strong moral principles … you get the point. :)

3. After telling yourself what you’ll become, do what you have to do to make it a reality (in every area of your life) because faith without corresponding actions is dead.

Key Point to Remember

Don't let self-created obstacles of self-doubt defeat you before you start. Resolve to keep going until you win through!

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

Related Articles:

Rise Above Your Limiting Beliefs

Capture and Replace Every NegativeThought in Your Mind Immediately

How to Overcome the Fear of Change

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:26:00 +0000

Human beings are the only known creatures that can remold themselves through self-study. Our individual growth depends on our understanding of what we can become and what we have to do to achieve this. Internal understanding and acceptance will lead to change in attitudes, habits, and the good news is that you can consciously and constructively change your habits and attitudes for the better.

The problem is that change is uncomfortable and it is met with some form of internal resistance. As a result, most people are unwilling to pay the immediate price of change; therefore, they do not change and pay the ultimate price. A basic fear of the unknown causes a natural resistance to change and the result is that although we have the desire to have, we do not have the desire to become.

One way to solve this problem, control your future, and direct your change is to have written goals. The instant this is done the fear of change starts to dissipate as we become accustomed to goal-directed change. It is because of the unknown, of course, that change is scary. Yet, whenever it becomes goal-directed, it no longer becomes something to avoid.

Here is what you have to do at your leisure:

1. Write down all the areas of your life on paper: financial, career, physical, health, family, social, personal, fun, adventure, mental, emotional, spiritual, and ethical

2. Take each area and identify the changes you want to make in each of these areas. It could be in your habits, attitudes, finances, relationships and so on.

3. These changes are not wishes (like New Year's resolution, if you catch my drift); they are vivid goals/dreams you want to act on, so put them down on paper to help you create a psychological commitment, and provide a guide for you to stay on course. If you have problems with putting your goals on paper in a way that provides all the information you need at a glance, click here to read some guidelines.

“Great changes may not happen right away, but with effort even the difficult may become easy.” — Bill Blackman

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that to move forward change cannot be avoided and it is important to understand that each change provides an opportunity for an innovation, and a chance to demonstrate your own skills and creativity which you will find starts to flow more as change stimulates it.

This is a New Year and I believe it is the best time to talk about change so that you don’t repeat year after year in the same situation, having no change. So, keep this principle in mind: “when you focus on change (in every area of your life) you’ll get results.

The Bottom Line:

All growth involves some form of change, and the key to your success is to control the direction of change (in every area of your life). The best way to do this is to become accustomed to goal–directed change.

Remember, you can initiate positive changes within you.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

Develop a Personal Relationship with God

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:12:00 +0000

You have to decide that you are going to dedicate every area of your life to God. You can develop a close and personal relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ, if your desire is strong enough followed by willing effort (studying the Word of God, and applying the Biblical principles in your everyday life). When we are born again, God gives us a new heart and put His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) in us. The problem is that many people are church-goers but haven't really been born-again (they haven't open up their life to God).

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”— (Proverbs 1:7 RSV)

Moreover, some people do not read the Bible because they convince themselves that they cannot understand it and so there is no point in reading it, or simply because they don't believe what it says. As a result, they don’t see any improvement in their lives because God’s Word works effectively in the lives of those who believe.

The truth is that the words in the Bible are not ordinary words; they are supernatural power-filled words. The light in the Word of God will destroy the darkness in your past, your emotions, your relationships, and in your mind.

In addition, to develop a personal relationship with God you have to spend time with Him daily - in prayer, singing songs of praise, admiring the works of His hands, meditating on His Word, pray and ask Him for wisdom and spiritual understanding. His Spirit will help you know more about Him, all you've got to do is listen to His still small voice in you and make a decision to obey what it tells you to do.

The more you obey His voice in you, the more you'll be able identify His voice from other conflicting voices. And one way to help you know His voice is to study His Word daily. Also, learn to love solitude. Practice sitting in silence away from the commotion around you. Personally, I love to go somewhere quiet every day just to get clear instructions and directions about what I want to do. This has become second nature to me.

This habit helped me tremendously when I was facing difficult times in college (and in literally every area of my life). The good news is that it was during his time that I got born again and started developing a personal relationship with Him. I didn't think I could make it through, but He encouraged me (through His word, and my spiritual mentor's messages) to never give up. That He will make a way for me- although it looks impossible.

In fact, while reading the scriptures on my bed one morning, He took me to Isaiah 41:10 which says "Do not be afraid for I am with you, ... and I myself will help you". When I refused to give up and made a decision to raise a phoenix out of the ashes of my crisis, He supernaturally guided me and I achieved the impossible! And the lists goes on.... Since then, our relationship has been growing stronger every day and all I want to do is obey his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. Decide to let go of what doesn't agree with God's word. Love what's good and abhor what is bad; from bad habits to how you spend your time, and He'll will give you practical wisdom and spiritual understanding as you spend time with Him (studying and meditating on His Word). Keep in mind that when you draw closer to God, He'll draw closer to you.

I want you to know that you can develop a personal relationship with God, and soon you'll begin to see His favor on your life in a greater way.

Gerard Ndzebir

Free Goal Setting Report

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:25:00 +0000

I always thought that many people, in fact everyone, knows about goals and how to set them (in every area of their lives). But when I started sharing these principles with college students I noticed that many people don’t know what goals are or their vital importance as an ingredient toward achieving what they want.

This is because they certainly haven’t been introduced to goal setting before. And is worth mentioning that it is one of the reasons why they don't get what they want, and/or manage their time poorly because it is easy to become distracted by unimportant/unnecessary activities, or other's agendas without written goals.

The good news is that anyone can master the art of goal setting and learn how to put their goals down on paper in a way that is clear, easy to follow, and providing all the information they need at a glance. To get the FREE report click here and please feel free to print and/or share it.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

Develop the Habit of Goal Setting

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:38:00 +0000

Humans are by nature goal-striving and we are not happy unless we are functioning in this way. The problem is that many people do not know what goals are or their vital importance as an ingredient toward achieving what they want. They haven’t been introduced to goal-setting before, and therefore do not know how to put their goals down on paper in a way that is clear, easy to follow, and providing all the information they need at a glance.

To solve this problem, you have to master the art of goal-setting, make it a new habit, and watch yourself grow in confidence and happiness. Establishing goals in a defined fashion is hard work. It requires concentrated effort and often at times hours or days to refine. That is why some people will say that they have no goals—because they don’t have the time to set goals.

Yet, only by persistently and consistently taking action over and over again will you build up the habit for goal setting. If for 10-20 years you have never spent 30 minutes a day thinking, writing and planning about what you really want and taking some action immediately toward it, but instead have spent the same time just thinking about what you don’t want, dwelling on negative thoughts that fill your mind with worry and fear, expecting the worst and hoping for the best, then after a while you will forget the “new ways of thinking” and go back to the old ways of thinking, even if it is leading you away from what you want.

"Successful people are simply those with success habits."

- Brian Tracy

The good news is that working on goal-setting and the development of inner qualities will automatically bring lots of little successes. This not only builds you confidence, self-esteem and self-worth, but it actually creates the habit of success physically, mentally, and emotionally. As habits eventually form us, you will become a habitual success.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

24H4HGK9HFCT

Give Yourself a Mental & Emotional Boost

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:18:00 +0000

Sometimes, people aren’t short of goals but they are short of reasons why they want to achieve their goals. And one of the reasons why some people do not get what they want, even when they decided to get it, is simply because they have little or no reasons why they want to do, have, achieve and become what they want.

As a result, the desire to get what they want is weak; they lack incentive for effort and, therefore, make none. It is noteworthy that failure to follow desire to do what you want to do paves the way to mediocrity.

On the contrary, he who deeply desires anything loves the effort which he must exert to obtain his desire, and will gain the knowledge which he needs for achievement and the power to express that knowledge.

“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” - Napoleon Hill

To solve this problem, write down all the reasons why you want to do, have, achieve, buy, and become what you want and recite them every morning when you wake up, to keep them fresh in your mind, before you start taking steps toward your goals in every area of your life:

Financial/Career/Business

Physical/Health

Family/Social/Relationships

Personal/Fun/Adventure

Mental/Emotional

Spiritual/Ethical

Well, I assume by now you have written goals in a goal journal. If you have problems with putting your goals down on paper in the way that is clear, easy to follow and providing all the information you need at a glance, click here.

Moreover, when we write down the “reasons why” we are in effect listing the benefits to gain and losses to be avoided. In addition, when you focus on the expected benefit the price is put into proportion and becomes acceptable— assuming that you have decided it is worth to you.

Then, your imagination stimulates your emotional appetite, and the result is the release of strong emotions called desire. And desire, when harnessed, is sheer power.

“The battle is all over except the "shouting" when one knows what is wanted and has made up his mind to get it, whatever the price may be.” - Napoleon Hill

It is necessary, therefore, to develop a deep down burning desire and also know how to generate it, in order to draw on your latent strength and power. And one way to do this is by constantly reminding yourself of all the reasons why you want to do, have, buy, achieve, and become what you want, in every area of your life, every day.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

How to Overcome Discouragement

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:17:00 +0000

Everyone gets discouraged at some point or another in their lives and when this happens, our attitudes and emotions become more negative. There are three levels of discouragement:

• The first level is mild discouragement, when only our emotions are affected.

• The second level is stronger discouragement when your spirit is affected. At this point other people begin to notice that something is wrong, that you are not yourself. Your friends, spouse, classmates, co-workers, or other people at your church see that something is wrong.

• The third level is disabling discouragement, and it is the worst kind of discouragement. If a person attains this level of discouragement, it becomes difficult for them to handle the normal responsibilities of life. As a result, they try to deal with their discouragement by sleeping, drinking, or drug abuse.

The problem is that we often waste time and energy blaming why we are in a situation and how “we don’t deserve this”. Instead of making comments like, “why did this happen to me?”, “who is to blame?”, “who is going to pay for it?”, “who is going to sort it out for me?”, and “it isn’t fair”, and “why did “they” allow this to happen?” we should be using the time to learn, regroup and move again. We should be using our energy to be creative in raising a phoenix from the ashes of our crisis.

“Tough times never last, but tough people do.”

- Dr. Robert Schuller

Everyone must cut his or teeth on some form of experience and in common with many, I have experienced great adversity. We cannot borrow strength as borrowing strength creates weakness. We must acquire strength. Character cannot be made except by a steady, long continued process and I believe that for every battle won or lost we emerge stronger in character—if we choose to learn from it.

I remember the ordeal I had to go through in college that took about 5-6 years of pain; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I had never experienced failure before and experiencing it for the first time was one of the most discouraging feelings I’ve ever had to deal with.

During my first year in college, I experienced great adversity: financial hardship, poor grades at the end of the first semester exams, stressed out because I carried courses over to the next semester, ate little or nothing during the day and literally had to stay hungry all day long because not only I didn’t have enough money, but I also had lactose intolerance. With gas bubbles forming in my intestines literally every 10 seconds regardless of what I ate, I couldn’t stand the embarrassment incurred when I was on campus around people so I decided to stay hungry anyway.

Also, due to stress, I had a momentary pain around my heart and my first thoughts were “Oh no, I’m too young to have a heart attack!” This led to constant fear of the unknown causing more mental and emotional distress. In addition, I lost friends and family support—they didn’t understand what I was going through and so I became lonely. The truth is that I felt like I was the only one walking on the surface of the earth with no one to talk to, no one to cheer me on. Words cannot describe how discouraged I was seeing my future being destroyed before my own eyes. And to be honest I was hopeless, insecure, frustrated, discouraged, miserable, depressed, and scared to death.

The good news is that the only area of my life that was beginning to glow was the spiritual area of my life. It was during this time that I got born again in spirit and began to develop a close and personal relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ. That was the turning point in my life!

As I began to study and meditate on God’s Word, and listen to the teachings of my spiritual mentor every day, I became spiritually strong. Moreover, God began to lead me to scriptures that addressed my situation, and promised that He would help me to overcome the obstacles I faced and give me a NEW future if I was willing to TRUST Him, continue to study His Word, and ensure that I apply the principles I learned in order to transform my mind. I remember making a promise to Him that if He would help me get out of the mess I had in my life back then, I would do everything to lead a life that is pleasing and honoring to Him.

Of the three levels of discouragement I mentioned earlier, I was at the second level. And I needed to be spiritually strong to rise to the challenge I faced. As time went by, I started noticing some imperceptible changes in my attitudes and behaviors. I began to develop strong character, my perspective changed and rather than looking for whom to blame, I started looking for the solution. I had to quit blaming, complaining, and start doing what only I could do—in this case study harder. God reminded me that when I do what I can do He will do what I cannot do. In the end, I made it through by His grace. That is when I believed that God can instantly and dramatically turn any situation I faced completely around.

In retrospect, I realized that my situation back then was divinely orchestrated, and I could not change it no matter how much I tried to do so. God told me somewhere along the line that the difficult circumstance was meant for my personal and spiritual growth in preparation for my purpose in life. And it was during this time that I learned and mastered the principles I’m privileged to share with you today. So without that experience, I wouldn’t be ready to do what He wanted me to do in life.

“Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.” - Zig Ziglar

Other things you should do to help you overcome discouragement

First, you should take time to identify the reasons why you are discouraged. You have to diagnose before you can prescribe. You cannot solve a problem that is not clearly and specifically defined.

Here are 6 things you can do, on your part, to overcome discouragement:

1. Take 100% responsibility for your discouragement

Do not wait for someone to come along and encourage you. When you are discouraged internally, it is very difficult for people to encourage you. Being discouraged internally is not something that other people can alleviate; it is something that you have to do. Only you can get out of it. Remember, one of the marks of a positive thinker is that he/she is a self-encourager.

2. Never give up

Always resolve in advance that no matter the setback you encounter you will never give up. Look upon every setback you encounter as a learning curve you must endure before you can become what you want.

3. Listen to motivational tapes

One of the reasons why I stayed encouraged during those difficult years when I felt like giving up was because I spent time watching and listening to encouraging messages. They lifted my spirits.

4. Read something inspirational/ motivational

If there is no one to talk to, then read. Continue to feed your mind with what you want. Back then, I had some inspiring books and spiritual magazines to read. They helped me to stay more motivated and positive.

5. Avoid excessive reasoning, blaming, and complaining

I never understood why "they" allowed it to happen. As a result, I spent too much of my time blaming myself, others and how “I don’t deserve this”. However, as I read those inspiring books and listen to biblical teachings, I learned that I had to give up all blaming and complaining if I wanted to see the results I was hoping for. I learned that when I do what I can do, God will do what I cannot do.

6. Choose to smile

This is one of the best things we can do to lift our spirits and improve our outlook on life. Being happy now means making yourself laugh more often, not a chuckle or grin but a really big belly laugh. Moreover, develop a good sense of humor and find something funny to laugh about. Sometimes just putting a smile on your face can do wonders for your attitude.

I challenge you: if you're discouraged, take responsibility for it. You have no control over what happens to you but you have total control over how you deal with your situation. Encourage yourself by turning to God and to God's Word. And in God's Word you will find hope, help, and the strength to overcome discouragement.

Stay Motivated & Positive,

Gerard Ndzebir

Capture and Replace Every Negative Thought in Your Mind Immediately

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:03:00 +0000

According to medical science, 87 to 95 percent of current physical and emotional illnesses come from our thought life. Thoughts repeatedly sown will be reaped in physical manifestation and what we think will determine how we function spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.

The problem is that you may have random nagging thoughts that are not exactly worries but irritating thoughts. As a result, they distract you from focusing on the task at hand. If you don't deal with these thoughts (by capturing and replacing them) they could throw your brain into a frenzy of broken feedback loops, disrupting the natural flow and balance of chemicals in your brain and body. This in turn will affect your emotional and physical state.

To solve this problem, capture each negative thought that comes to your mind the moment you notice random thoughts, nagging at you while you are working on your objectives, by writing them down on paper. As you write these thoughts on paper, don't worry about making them neat or orderly just scribble them out. Then, affirm out loud that you are setting them aside so that you can focus on the task at hand in order to do it excellently.

Moreover, you can replace the negative thought with a positive one using affirmations and conditioning statements. For example, you may have hidden nagging thoughts telling you that working on your goals is a waste of time and energy because you don't have what it takes to succeed. If this is the case, you can counter this thought with: "I believe I have what it takes to succeed" or something similar. I've found that by saying "I believe", it gives no room to any negative voice in my mind that may try to question my affirmation. So, I urge you to include "I believe" at the beginning of every affirmation you create.

The truth is that anyone can unconsciously slip into the habit of thinking negatively. This can be overcome when you view yourself objectively, recognize you are thinking negatively, discover the underlying cause of the negative thought, resolve to root out each negative thought and replace it with a positive one (in every area of your life) using affirmations, conditioning statements and mental images of what you want.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

You Can Overcome the Obstacles You Face

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:07:00 +0000

Anyone who has already accomplished what you want to accomplish had to surmount their own obstacles. That which they become they first desired to become. They thought out, and planned every step upward to their own high mountain top. And it is noteworthy that he who deeply desires anything loves the effort which he must exert to obtain his desire, but he whose desire is weak lacks incentive for effort and, therefore, makes none.

“We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals, and we find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve.” -- Maxwell Maltz

The problem could be that you have not clearly identified all those things preventing you from reaching your goal. Because the problem has never been clearly defined it becomes more difficult to solve it. You have to diagnose before you can prescribe so to speak. If you went to see your doctor for a health problem and he started prescribing a drug for you before making a diagnosis. What sort of impression would you get?

To solve this problem, ensure that you write down all those things preventing you from reaching your goals (in every area of your life). I hope that by now you have written goals in a goal journal to help you crystallize your thinking in writing. Only by writing down the reasons why you don’t have what you want now will it crystallize your thinking and cause you to start thinking of the solutions.

Once you clearly identify all the things preventing you from reaching your goals you may be surprised to find that you actually know what to do to resolve a problem. You will find that solutions will come to you which you had not entertained before. Why? This is because the problem has never been identified before. If no solutions come to you straightaway, keep focusing on what you want, not what you don’t want, and the solution will come.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

Everything Counts

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:50:00 +0000

Getting close is always a good start to getting where you want to go – and is always a lot closer than where you began. No doubt about it, success has and always will be a step by step process. With each new step taken, the goal gets a little closer, a little clearer and a little easier to reach. By making every day count for something special, it’s not a matter of “if” an individual will reach his or her goal – it’s only a matter of when.

“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…One step at a time”—Joe Girad

You too must take as many steps as you can every day, making certain you do not skip any important steps along the way. By staying focused on your goals, you’ll get a little closer, a little closer and a little closer to making your dreams come true. Then, before you know it, you will have reached farther and climbed higher than you ever dreamed was possible. Getting close does count – so why not get going and get closer … today?

“There is no one giant step that does it. It is a lot of little steps" —Peter A. Cohen

The problem is that many people watch between 20 to 30 hours of television a week and then convince themselves that they haven’t got time to do what they want. They deceive themselves words like: “why shouldn’t I? It’s the only way I can relax” or “I’ve been working all day long, I deserve it”.

Then, once they realize that another evening that could have been spent taking them one step toward what they want has gone, they start to rationalize that “last night doesn’t count”. Well, guess what? Everything counts! Everything that takes you toward what you want is right and everything that moves you away from what you want is wrong.

The Bottom Line: Each step toward your goal is a positive count, each stop is a negative count—neutral doesn’t exist.

To Your Success,

Gerard Ndzebir

Describe Each Goal in Its Completed State

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:22:00 +0000

Our conscious mind is the gardener and our subconscious mind is the garden and whatever we plant in it will grow for us. Thoughts repeatedly sown will be reaped in physical manifestation. And the problem is that we are bound by the self-imposed limitations of our subconscious mind.

Moreover, too many people short-circuit their chances for success by having a low self-image, restricting their image of what they can do by self-imposed limitations caused by conditioning. That’s why we must use affirmations to free our untapped potential in order to achieve what we want.

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” -- Epictetus

Furthermore, many people practice a negative kind of affirmation. They constantly tell themselves things like “I cannot do it because I don’t know how to do it”, “I don’t like crowds”, “I’m not that talented”, “I am just not good at making a speech”, “I will never get well”, “I think nobody likes me”… and so on. As a result, their mind is filled with worry because they dwell constantly on negative outcomes.

If you find yourself constantly thinking negatively about you and what you want to achieve, or constantly trying to change the negative images and sounds you focus on that make you feel discouraged, just try doing the following exercise.

Well, I assume that you already have written goals in every area of your life in a goal journal. So, simply take each goal and describe it in its completed state. Talk about your future achievements as if you’d already accomplish them when no one is around to hear you. Imagine that you are the keynote speaker at an important event, and the audience is dying to hear how you succeeded against all odds.

Share your strategies for success, highlight the challenges you faced (the obstacles you have written down in your goal journal) and reveal the mindset that enabled you to overcome them. If you do this activity wholeheartedly you can become more determined and feel encouraged by the end of your “talk” to continue doing what you have to do to make it a reality.

This is what I do frequently while sitting at my desk in my office. In my mind, I’m always in front of an audience. If you could set up a hidden camera somewhere in my office you’ll realize that I constantly “speak” to my “audience”. I’ve been doing this for a very long time and to tell you the truth it’s become second nature. That’s why I have constant entertainment by myself. :)

The Bottom Line: You have to take time to describe each of your goals in their completed state frequently during the day. Constantly imagine yourself in front of an audience eager to hear how you achieved what you want. This should leave you feeling like you’ve already achieved what you want, thus increasing your desire to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Stay Motivated,

Gerard Ndzebir

Give Yourself a Reward

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:06:00 +0000

Too many goals have been lost purely because of lack of a built-in reward and praise system. Individuals go for weeks, months, years with no "pat on the back" and give up their dreams when their motivation is at low. It is noteworthy that our craving for meaning and purpose is very strong and whenever we receive praise or reward we feel appreciated, important, and meaningful.

“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” – Mother Teresa

We all know that a short statement of praise makes us double our efforts for the person who gave it, with a renewed vigor. Why? — So we can get some more. The reasons why and the major benefits will take you over obstacles but there needs to be lots of little "well dones" to lubricate the journey.

To do this, you should have a reward system for all your small, medium, and long-term goals. It doesn't matter how small the reward is, as long as there is a reward. For example, if by following your goals your plan is to read a book of, say ten chapters a day, you should reward yourself accordingly for each chapter you read. It could be something as simple as closing your eyes and visualizing what you just read, or stretching your muscles, passing one paper clip from one side of your desk to the other and so on.

Moreover, develop the (When….Then) mindset as you take one step at a time toward your goals every day.

For example,

When I exercise for 15 minutes every day then I will watch my favorite TV program.

When I read a chapter of this book then I will drink a glass of wine.

When I study French for 1 hour each day then I will read my magazine.

The idea is that you should think of new ways to make the journey toward your desired goal more fun.

The Bottom Line: Whenever you receive praise or reward you feel appreciated, important, and meaningful. So give yourself little rewards and lots of praise, no matter how small. A big reward can be just telling yourself "well done, I'm really proud of you!"

Stay Motivated,

Gerard Ndzebir

Give Yourself a Pep Talk

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:48:00 +0000

If the inner dialogue with yourself is filled with negativity it can reduce your desire to do anything. The good news is that if you counter that with a positive pep talk it can give you the motivation you need to keep pressing forward.

For example, you might have an inner recording telling you that you are wasting your time working on a particular goal because you don’t have what it takes or it is simply never going to happen with all the obstacles on your path and the problem is that you may be unaware of such recording.

Furthermore, it is easy to be down on yourself especially if you don’t think you are seeing results fast enough. No matter how successful you are, or how many victories you've had in the past, there will always be an opportunity to get discouraged and I must admit that I have been struggling with staying motivated for a couple of weeks now because I'm not seeing the results I want fast enough.

However, each time I begin to feel discouraged I remind myself that it is just a "discouragement test", that this season will come to pass, that I’ve made great progress already, and that everything will be alright.

I've found that when you talk to yourself frequently in a positive way, your voice will override the negative voices in your mind. So, keep on reassuring yourself every day that you are making progress one day at a time, that you are one step closer to the finish line and that at the appointed time you’ll achieve what you want.

When giving yourself a pep talk, ensure that you do the following:

1.Think about the progress you’ve made. Rather than dwelling on where you wish you were right now, consider how far you’ve come. Think about the progress you’ve made up to this point. Focus on these things and remind yourself that you are getting somewhere.

2.Tell yourself what you need to do next. After acknowledging that you are making some progress you need to think about what comes next. This is one of the reasons why you MUST have written goals you are committed to, with a plan of action showing you the next step to take. You can learn more about putting your goals down on paper here.

3.Describe what you are going to do next in its completed state and then resolve to take action.

The Bottom Line: When you talk to yourself frequently in a positive way, your voice will override the negative voices in your mind. This helps you to become more motivated and positive.

Stay Motivated,

Gerard Ndzebir

Don't Worry About Anything Because Everything Will Be Alright

noreply@blogger.com (L Gerard ) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 07:55:00 +0000

The Bible says that we cannot even add one inch to our height by worrying. (See Matthew 6:27) Worrying does us absolutely no good and it is a complete waste of time and energy. Yet we worry, worry, worry, which gets us nowhere. It doesn’t change one thing, and we waste time by being upset over stuff we cannot do anything about—things only God can change. And He’s not going to change them until we put our trust in Him instead of being anxious and worrying.

The problem is that we let our hearts to be troubled, and disturbed when we find ourselves in unpleasant circumstances and as a result we begin to feel depressed, disappointed, and discouraged.

Also, it is noteworthy that every time we get really upset it takes a lot of emotional energy, tires us out, messes with our health, steals our joy, and still doesn’t change one thing. Yet, most of our present-day living is weighed down by worrying about what might happen in the future.

If you worry too much about things you cannot change, you should realize that it is a bad habit. Moreover, you should acknowledge the futility of this emotion—that you are paying an interest on a payment not yet due. To do this, ask yourself this question the next time you find yourself worrying: “What I’m I putting off by using this present moment to worry?”

In addition, make a list of all the things you worried about 6 months ago. See how many things came to pass and if the worry was productive. Soon, you’ll realize that every future dilemma often turns out to be a mirror or even a blessing in disguise when it arrives.

Stay Positive,

Gerard Ndzebir