Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 484, December 18-19, 2007
FREE Self
Improvement Newsletter, Click here!Please Visit Our Sponsors
Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 484, December 18-19, 2007
FREE Self
Improvement Newsletter, Click here!
Please Visit Our Sponsors
* Self Improvement and Personal
Growth Weekly Newsletter *
Issue # 484, Week of December 18-19, 2007
Publisher: David Riklan -
http://www.SelfGrowth.com
In this issue:
-- Quotes of the Week
-- Personal Growth Products and Services
-- Article: Beating Procrastination for Good - By Paul Chek
-- Article: Appreciation is the Best Gift We Can Give - By Mike Robbins
-- Book Review: Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation - By Mike
Robbins
-- How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe from this Newsletter
Current Subscribers - 263,181 subscribers
Removal instructions are listed at the end of
the newsletter.
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*** Quotes of the Week ***
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Make it a point to do something every day that you don't want to do. This is the
golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain. - Mark
Twain, 1835-1910, American Writer and Humorist
Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing. - Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900,
Irish Dramatist/Novelist/Poet
It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one. - George Washington, 1732-1799,
1st President of the United States
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*** Article: Beating Procrastination for Good - By Paul Chek ***
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Every one of us has 24 hours in our day -- no more, no less. Yet some people
manage to get an awful lot done in that time, and others just can't seem to
get anything done. These latter people fritter away their day, finding other
things to do while avoiding the goals and tasks they know they should be
working on. They may even want to get things done, but when the day is over,
they find their goals list untouched. Especially in the case of a genuine
desire to complete your tasks, procrastination can be extremely frustrating.
So what can you do about it? How can you move beyond procrastination to
become genuinely productive? The first step is to understand just what
procrastination is and where it comes from, and that's what I want to
discuss here today.
In my experience, procrastination emanates from the lack of a clear life's
dream, a failure to have a scientific goal structure, and inability to
manage your self. Let's begin with the first of the three components -- lack
of a clear life's dream. Procrastination is usually the result of a desire
for short-term gratification. When you don't have a long-term life goal --
what I call a legacy -- the kinds of rewards and sources of gratification in
your life are very limited. There is only the opportunity for short-term
gratification. This is where procrastination enters because when you
procrastinate, you avoid doing what you need to do for the sake of instant
gratification. It's easy to avoid doing the things you need to do when there
are other things that bring more instant rewards, and those are the only
real rewards you have in life.
Put another way, when you don't have a legacy to guide your activities, your
life-force gets sprinkled into a little of this and a little of that, but
not concentrated enough to create anything tangible that evokes a sense of
completion. Procrastination is a way of directing your life-force just
enough so that you get a trickle of immediate satisfaction from what you do.
To fix this problem, it's important to spend the time to get clear on your
legacy. Once you have a clear life's dream, you can see how your tasks are
connected to that dream -- how they contribute to reaching that dream. The
satisfaction that flows from the completion of your activities, then, is the
satisfaction of moving one step closer to reaching your dream. Your
activities have a place in a larger goal and serve a purpose apart from, for
example, just bringing in a paycheck to pay the bills. The tasks that once
seemed like pure drudgery come to have a value that they lacked before, and
the desire for satisfaction or a sense of completion can just as easily be
fulfilled now by doing the work that needs to be done.
Without a clear understanding of your legacy to channel your creative
energy, that energy is all too easily diffused. Concentrated light makes a
laser beam, and a laser beam can be used to get work done that can't be
accomplished without focusing the light. Your legacy is the lens through
which the light of your being becomes focused.
Having a legacy is the first and most important step in ridding your life of
procrastination, but it isn't always enough. Many people that have a legacy
still find themselves falling into this pattern of distraction. Oftentimes,
people will find themselves avoiding their real work because they lack a
scientific goal structure. The distance between where you are now and the
realization of your legacy can be daunting, and without a clear sequence of
intermediate goals and a vision of how those intermediate goals will lead
you to your legacy, it's easy to misdirect your life-force. These
intermediate goals plug the task that you are engaged in now into the
positive energy of your legacy. The goal structure allows that positive
energy to flow into your tasks, and this is what creates the sense of
completion and satisfaction when you finish your work projects. Without that
goal structure, the energy can't flow from your legacy, and so the
motivation for completing your projects will still be lacking.
The remedy here is to take the time to write down a goal structure for your
legacy. The structure should include daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly
goals. You can then start your day by writing out how the tasks you need to
complete on that day contribute to reaching your legacy. Make the connection
explicit and make it real. Once you can see the relationship between today's
tasks and your life's dream, you'll tap into the energy of your legacy and
find that you have the drive to complete your goals for the day.
Finally, having a legacy and a goal structure may not be enough if you are
having difficulty managing your self. Taking care of your day's goals is a
matter of channeling your energy in the right ways, and procrastination is
one form of energy mismanagement. If you're tired, sick, or stressed out,
your ability to direct the flow of your energy can be greatly reduced, and
it's much easier to fall back into the habit of procrastination. The
short-term gratification of procrastination can be much more appealing in
those cases as well because it acts as a sort of pick-me-up, giving a shot
of satisfaction when you're down. It's the same effect as drinking a cup of
coffee when you haven't eaten all day -- it's an energy boost.
The response to this component of the problem is to take a careful look at
your lifestyle. Very roughly, you can evaluate your lifestyle on three
dimensions: diet, exercise, and the ability to balance the expenditure of
energy with the cultivation of energy. For each of these dimensions, you
might ask the following questions:
Diet:
a. How often do you eat quality, organic foods?
b. How many times do you eat each day?
c. Do you skip meals?
Exercise:
a. How frequently do you exercise?
b. What kinds of exercise do you engage in?
Balancing energy expenditure with energy cultivation:
a. Are you drinking enough water?
b. Do you get eight hours of sleep each night?
c. How often do you take time out to enjoy yourself?
d. How often do you allow your mind to focus on the negative aspects of life
as opposed to the positive?
e. Do you have a way to relieve stress?
The fundamental point here is there is an intimate connection between the
health of your body and the health and strength of your mind and your will.
If you don't have a healthy body, it's going to be much more difficult to
focus and direct your energy. Asking the very basic questions I describe
above can help you to see how your lifestyle aids in or detracts from your
ability to focus and direct your energies. So learn to manage your self, and
you'll find that you accomplish your tasks much more frequently and
effectively.
In sum, the formula for removing the control that procrastination has in
your life is to find your legacy, connect everything you do to your legacy,
and manage your body, mind, and spirit so that you have the energy and the
will to direct your life-force in the way that you want. When you've
addressed the factors that I've discussed here, not only will you find that
you're more productive, you'll be healthier, happier, and much closer to
living a life that is genuinely satisfying!
About the Author:
Paul Chek is an internationally renowned holistic health practitioner,
consultant to some of the world's most elite athletes and business
professionals, and founder of PPS Success and the C.H.E.K Institute:
http://www.ppssuccess.com and
http://www.chekinstitute.com . His
workshops
and seminars have helped thousands of people from all walks of life to go
after and reach their fullest potential.
Paul has produced more than 50 videos, 7 books (including his new ebook "The
Last 4 Doctors You'll Ever Need: How to Get Healthy Now!" -
http://www.thelast4doctors.com), as
well as 16 advanced-level home study
courses while regularly contributing to several publications and web sites.
Above all he has become an educator, teaching and applying his methods to
benefit others through lectures, multimedia presentations, and most recently
on the web in the areas of personal, professional, and spiritual development
through the PPS Success Mastery Program.
Check out the Experts page for Paul Chek, the Official SelfGrowth.com Guide
to Personal Development:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/paul_chek.html
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*** Article: Appreciation is the Best Gift We Can Give - By Mike Robbins ***
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During the holiday season, it's easy for us to get caught up in the stress
of decorating the house, preparing for parties, and rushing around to buy
gifts for everyone. Many of us will spend hundreds, if not thousands of
dollars on holiday presents.
Instead of just giving the important people in your life lots of "stuff"
this year, give them the best gift of all: your appreciation. Your spouse,
parents, children, friends, co-workers, or other family members, will be
thrilled when you let them know what you appreciate about them and how they
positively impact your life.
In the midst of our holiday "madness," we often forget that what most people
want, more than anything else, is to be truly appreciated by us. The best
gift we can give to the people in our lives is the gift of our true
appreciation and love. This is not to say that material gifts are
meaningless. However, I think we often get so caught up in the material
gifts and the activities of the holidays that we forget that the most
important gift (our love and appreciation) costs nothing at all.
If we stop for a moment and think about the people around us, there is so
much to appreciate about them. Maybe they are not "perfect" and maybe we get
annoyed and frustrated with them at times. It seems that we often get the
most frustrated with those closest to us.
However, as Werner Erhard said, "In every human being there is both garbage
and gold, it is up to us to choose what we pay attention to." I believe we
find exactly what we look for. If we look for "gold" in others, we always
find an abundance of treasures within them. Then, when we have the courage
to honor and acknowledge their gold in a heartfelt way, we give them one of
the most powerful and meaningful gifts of all.appreciation!
Here are three simple suggestions to make your holiday gifts and your
holiday season special:
Suggestions:
1) In addition to (or instead of) giving gifts, take time to write heartfelt
thank you cards. Let the important people around you know what you
appreciate about them and how they have impacted your life.
2) Ask people what they want. Getting something specific that they really
want will have them feel appreciated and valued. It doesn't have to be
expensive, as long as it is personal to them.
3) When you gather with your family or friends to exchange gifts, as you
pass things out to each person, take a moment to let them know what you
appreciate about them publicly.
Make this holiday season one of connection and transformation for you and
those close to you by taking the time to express your love and appreciation.
The people in your life will be grateful and so will you!
C Mike Robbins - Speaker, Author, Coach
About the Author:
Mike Robbins is a personal growth expert, author, and sought after keynote
speaker who empowers individuals, organizations, and groups of all kinds to
appreciate themselves and each other -- thus leading to greater success,
improved relationships, and increased fulfillment. Experience the positive
impact of appreciation on yourself and those around you by reading Mike's
new, best-selling book, Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation.
To purchase discounted copies of this new book for yourself or others this
holiday season, and receive hundreds of dollars of free bonus products from
authors like Jack Canfield, Marianne Williamson, and many others, go to
http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/launch
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*** Book Review: Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation - By
Mike Robbins ***
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"Focus on the Good Stuff" first explores the many challenges involved in
expressing and experiencing appreciation and gratitude in our lives. The
book then presents readers with simple yet effective ways to exercise the
power of appreciation in everyday life. By taking this journey, you will:
* Experience the positive impact of appreciation on yourself and those
around you
* Learn how to be grateful for your life -- right now
* Gain insight into using your thoughts, feelings, and words to create
circumstances and relationships that you appreciate
* Consider how to acknowledge other people from your heart
* Explore appreciating yourself in new and profound ways
This book is filled with action items, ideas, and suggested practices. It is
easy to take what you learn in "Focus on the Good Stuff" and apply it to
your life right away.
Mike Robbins shows us that it is our ability to feel and express true
appreciation -- to focus on the good stuff -- that leads us to genuine
fulfillment in our lives, not the other way around. The art of appreciating
our lives goes way beyond simply saying "thank you" or occasionally noticing
nice things. True appreciation is about altering the way we relate to
ourselves, others, and the world around us. By living our lives in a
grateful way, we put ourselves on a path of deep fulfillment and authentic
happiness.
*****
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*** Brief News of the World ***
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Positive:
* St. Louis spreads song, cheer and charity *
St. Louis may be known for the blues, but not at Christmas: During the
holidays, it might be the merriest place in the USA. Few cities can boast
more carolers, carrying on a tradition for almost a century -- since 1911.
It was then that the St. Louis Christmas Carols Association began, when
William H. Danforth, the founder of Ralston Purina, and a group of his
friends decided to bring some Christmas spirit to their neighbors by
caroling outside their homes. (Click here for complete news story)
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2007-12-16-caroling-st-louis_N.htm?csp=34
* "Baby Lakshmi" Goes Home: Girl Who Had 4 Extra Limbs Removed Doing Well;
"Hero" Should Walk Soon, Surgeon Says *
A two-year-old girl who was born with four arms and four legs left a
hospital in southern India on Saturday little more than a month after
surgeons there successfully removed her extra limbs. The surgeon who led
more than 30 doctors in the marathon surgery said Lakshmi was making good
progress and should be mobile soon. "Lakshmi is fine and stable," chief
surgeon Dr. Sharan Patil told The Associated Press. "She should face no
problem in walking." (Click here for complete news story)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/17/earlyshow/health/main3625464.shtml
* Wearable Kidney Device May Free Dialysis Patients: Experimental
'Artificial Kidney' May Hail New Freedom for Kidney Failure Patients *
Patients with chronic kidney failure could be freed from fixed dialysis
machines, thanks to a wearable artificial kidney that has shown promising
results in a pilot study. British researchers said on Friday the
battery-powered device, developed by U.S. firm Xcorporeal Inc, had proved
successful when worn for periods of 4 to 8 hours. (Click here for complete
news story)
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/DiabetesResource/wireStory?id=3997725
** For more positive news, please visit
http://www.selfgrowth.com/news.html
Other:
* Hot Online Search Topic: You -- Nearly Half Of U.S. Internet Users Are
Looking Themselves Up Online, Study Shows *
More Americans are Googling themselves -- and many are checking out their
friends, co-workers and romantic interests, too. In a report Sunday, the Pew
Internet and American Life Project said 47 percent of U.S. adult Internet
users have looked for information about themselves through Google or another
search engine. That is more than twice the 22 percent of users who did in
2002, but Pew senior research specialist Mary Madden was surprised the
growth was not higher. (Click here for complete news story)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/17/tech/main3624833.shtml
* Study: All-nighters hurt students' grades -- Those who don't skimp on
sleep have slightly higher grades, survey finds *
Students who rely on working at night to improve their grades might want to
sleep on that strategy: a new survey in the U.S. says those who never study
all night have slightly higher grades than those who do. A survey of 120
students at St. Lawrence University, a small liberal arts college in
northern New York, found that students who have never pulled an all-nighter
on average have higher grades than those who have. The survey found those
who did not study through the night had a grade point average of 3.2
compared to 2.95 for those who have. (Click here for complete news story)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22259233/
* After 50-year gap, man graduates college at 87: Senior earns a standing
ovation as he collects his degree *
A 50-year gap in his higher education didn't stop Clarence Garrett. After
returning to college in spring of 2006 as a full-time student, Garrett
completed course work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was
awarded his bachelor's degree at commencement ceremonies Sunday -- at the
age of 87. (Click here for complete news story)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22294190/