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Articles from Valencia Ray | Selfgrowth.com
- The Authentic You: What, Who, and Why it Matters - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2011 from Valencia RayAuthenticity and personal power are linked. Authenticity is something I’m hearing or reading about quite a bit these days. What is authenticity, who is the authentic you, and why does it matter to your life? Authenticity is about mind with heart congruity, which leads to integrity, honesty, ...
Views: 1112(1 vote) - Olympic Leadership for 21st Century Clarity and Confidence - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2012 from Valencia RayLeadership is evolving, and it needs to. A one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach is no longer working, and for good reason. The immense change we are facing is requiring leaders to be authentic and vulnerable, which means “less fear,” not weak, and in touch with their own individual ...
Views: 1092 - Leadership: Inspiring Others is Only the First Step - by Submitted on Aug 07, 2012 from Valencia RayOur leadership “true potential” is not realized simply by inspiring others or feeling inspired or just having more information. Knowledge is not really power until it is applied. Recognition or an “aha” are only nice, interesting tidbits until you muster up the courage to make the change. ...
Views: 1091 - The Courage to Stare Down Fear - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2012 from Valencia RayThe courage to stare down fear requires more than meets the eye. In fact, if you keep your focus and attention on what scares you, you will feel more afraid. Yet, you will need to face your fear, name your fear, and then tap into your spiritual power of courage. Courage is not of the head; it’s ...
Views: 1091 - Innovation: The Power of “How” - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2012 from Valencia RayInnovation can happen in a “Two-Degree Shift,” meaning the answer you seek could be right in your face… if you could only perceive it! Have you ever heard the old adage, “If it was a snake it would have bit me?” (meaning what you were looking for was right in front of you, but you did not see ...
Views: 1090(1 vote) - Why Optimally Operating Your Brain Matters So Much - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2013 from Valencia RayProductivity and performance matter, and underneath this is how we think. We load up on ‘what to do?’ but the deeper question is ‘how do we think about it?’. If we think that work and life are hard and that to be successful we have to feel pressure or stress, we are likely to dampen our level of ...
Views: 1088 - Work-Life Integration: Do Long Hours Equal Productivity? - by Submitted on Nov 06, 2012 from Valencia RayIt seems to me that many people are short on time and long on things to do. This certainly was an issue of mine also at one time. What I learned during those years was that time wasn’t the issue as much as was energy and focus. Lack of clarity and reflection time often drain the brain. When ...
Views: 1082(1 vote) - Clarity Takes Courage - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2013 from Valencia RayClarity is powerful and is a primary ingredient to performing at your best. It is poorly understood and generally not a feature of most people's strategies. Why? Because we are too busy being busy. We take pride in taking "massive action." Yet, if you are not clear about where you want to go ...
Views: 1081 - Collaborative Leadership: Does the Leader Need to Know it All? - by Submitted on Jul 31, 2012 from Valencia RayCollaborative leadership allows others to get their “voice” in the room. As long as there is a healthy level of trust, the terms of group meeting engagement can be explicit. This allows for a culture that can embrace a diversity of thought, which is something that is crucial for innovation. ...
Views: 1080(1 vote) - Happiness - Your Mindset Will Determine Where You Find Yourself in Life - by Submitted on Aug 29, 2010 from Valencia RayHappiness and peace of mind is not something that will be found outside of you on any long-term basis. All of the rapid change and commotion that is going on in the world today is a reminder of this. If my inner happiness were based on controlling the events that occur around me, I'd be in ...
Views: 1077(4 votes) - The Real Root of All Evil - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2011 from Valencia RayThe real root of all evil is not money; it’s lack of self-acceptance. By the way, even the Bible doesn’t say it’s money. There it says the “love of money” and love as used in the proper translation would be “lust” or attachment – in other words, greed. This is where lack of self-acceptance comes ...
Views: 1076 - Does Leadership Really Have a Gender? - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2012 from Valencia RayThe topic of leadership is being discussed online more than ever these days, or perhaps it’s just that I’m paying more attention now. Since we are undergoing rapid change in our social institutions, the need for real leadership is more urgent than ever before in my lifetime. I’ve noticed more ...
Views: 1075 - Gratitude Today Keeps the Doctor Away - by Submitted on Jul 17, 2012 from Valencia RayWork and life balance is central to health, real wealth, and enjoyable relationships. Gratitude and appreciation are apparently little known secret ingredients to what everyone is really seeking: inner peace, meaning, and joy. Then we can “in joy” our efforts and monetary results and use money ...
Views: 1074 - The Emotional Brain and Leadership That Resonates - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2012 from Valencia RayThe term “Resonate Leadership” reminds me of the ability it requires to play my piano skillfully. When I play the notes in harmony, it is soothing and harmonic. When played out of alignment and ignorantly, instead of music to my ears, it becomes unpleasant noise. This concept of “Resonance and ...
Views: 1074(1 vote) - Life Purpose: A Little Known Secret to Tap Your True Potential - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2012 from Valencia RayYour true potential is an existing possibility that needs to be cultivated and nurtured. We all have a purpose for being born. You are not a random accident. Yet, many people do not realize that how we see our self is a huge determinant of whether or not we pursue a higher vision for our life. ...
Views: 1073 - Authentic Leadership: The Eye of the Heart Sees Everything - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2013 from Valencia RayIs it 'eye' or 'I'? That is the question. It is interesting that they are pronounced the same. The physical eye allows you to see the physical world. The 'I'-who you think you are-determines the clarity of your perception: how you see the world and your life experience. Authentic leadership ...
Views: 1072(1 vote) - Self-Awareness: The Great and Powerful Oz - by Submitted on Apr 02, 2013 from Valencia RaySelf-awareness helps us wake up to aspects that are already present within us - we just don't see them. The blind spots of our society's conditioning over time can cause us to focus on what is allegedly 'wrong with us'. Sure, we all have shortcomings that challenge us to grow. These behaviors ...
Views: 1070(2 votes) - 3 Reasons Why Sleep Makes You a Better Leader - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Valencia RaySleep is apparently a little known secret to good leadership that is critical to high performance and well-being. It is not just for beauty rest; there are plenty of leadership and health reasons for getting a good night's sleep. It has unfortunately become acceptable and even encouraged in ...
Views: 1069(1 vote) - 3 Steps to Deal with that Perfectionistic Inner Critic - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2011 from Valencia RayPerfectionism will reduce your personal power and effectiveness. I used to take pride in saying I was a “perfectionist” until I started to realize WHY I was a perfectionist. Truth was, I felt insecure and “making a mistake” pushed my “not good enough” button that I was doing my best to conceal. ...
Views: 1066 - Neuroscience of Leadership and Change: Embracing the Millennium of the Mind - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2012 from Valencia RayLeadership and personal development can be most effectively integrated into corporate and entrepreneurial training programs when approached through the gateway of neuroscience and brain research. It is our amazing brain that allows us to engage conscious reasoning, choice, and to imagine ...
Views: 1064(1 vote) - Emotional Intelligence: From Quiet Desperation to Real Happiness - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2013 from Valencia RayEmotional Intelligence is the mind of the heart, the right-brain in metaphoric terms. Realize that language has its limitations, and speaking in terms of the English language subtleties can be lost - such as having only one word for 'love'. When culture moved away from communicating with images, ...
Views: 1059 - Happiness: Are You Confusing Your Career with Your Life? - by Submitted on Aug 14, 2012 from Valencia RayHappiness can be so fleeting for many because we have our priorities backwards. Many people connect their sense of self-worth with their career, with what they “do.” What you “do” is not the same as who you are. Now for many this statement will sound totally confusing. “Of course,” you may ...
Views: 1056 - Personal Power Increases with a Purpose Filter - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2013 from Valencia RayPersonal power and a sense of purpose are at the foundation of real productivity. Having a sense of purpose that is compelling for you fuels personal power and passion. Personal power is not about ‘power over’ others. It is not even about always ‘being in control’ over the environment. Haven’t ...
Views: 1055(2 votes) - Corporate Team Productivity Lessons from a Cow Farmer - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2012 from Valencia RayHigh-level productivity is a product of happiness—even in cows. There’s a lot of talk on the airwaves about innovation, productivity, employee engagement, and team building”…lots of talk. It’s really time for more action. I will say that I am seeing signs that people are finally realizing that ...
Views: 1054 - How You React or Respond to Crisis Can Make or Break Your Life - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2012 from Valencia RayYour true potential will be elusive if you are fearful of change. In fact, if you want to expand the vision for your life, you will have to stop looking for the status quo. Most people have warning signs that they need to move on before things get to the point of crisis. Yet they tend to react ...
Views: 1052 - Our Environment is Not the Only Thing that Changes – So Do You - by Submitted on Jul 24, 2012 from Valencia RayChange and transformation are happening in business and society at large, like it or not. We human beings are constantly changing, even at the level of our body’s cellular biology; yet vast numbers of people try to hold on to “just the way we are/I am” to avoid personal growth. When something ...
Views: 1037 - Happiness Helps Your Business – and Health – Bottom Line - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2012 from Valencia RayHappiness is a perception that is subject to how one sees life, how one interprets their circumstances. Brain research essentially shows we create our reality by assigning the meaning to our lives. Research shows that our ability to create and manage positive emotions is one of the foundations ...
Views: 1036 - Women in Business: Your Brain is Essentially a Computer – Know How to Operate It? - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2011 from Valencia RayWomen entrepreneurs are a rapidly growing demographic, yet the key is not to simply start a business but to also be successful at it. I owned and operated a very successful medical and surgical practice before selling it to now share insights into business and life that I’ve applied personally ...
Views: 1018 - Ready, Fire – Got Aim? - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2011 from Valencia RayBefore you do another thing, are you clear about where you are going and why? We’ve become a society of frantic doers, not taking the time to reflect and get clear before taking massive action. And even when we do create a strategy, it is often in the old way of thinking, and so our plans have ...
Views: 1008 - The Power of Vulnerability is Fear-Less - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2012 from Valencia RayLack of vulnerability is one reason why team relationships are so dysfunctional. The lack of trust leads to people putting on their “persona” (the root word in ‘personality’) masks. In our culture, vulnerability is confused with the concept of weakness. I’ve got news for you—vulnerability is ...
Views: 1006(1 vote) - Neuroscience of Leadership: Making Change Easier - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2013 from Valencia RayChange is the theme of our times. We can either embrace it and proactively create the change we want to see or allow it to randomly come upon us. Either way, change will continue to be a part of our lives. Neuroscience can help us as leaders to learn how to optimally operate our truly amazing ...
Views: 990(1 vote) - 3 Feelings That Can Harm Your Health and the Health of Your Dreams - by Submitted on Oct 09, 2011 from Valencia RayPersonal power is not often linked to the types of feelings that we have. In fact, most people would rather not acknowledge their feelings at all, which is unfortunate as research has shown that the magnetic energy of feelings is 5,000 times greater than that of thought. Our culture ...
Views: 978 - Leadership Development Means Business - by Submitted on Nov 27, 2012 from Valencia RayLeadership development when valued in the organizational culture can mean more business, more employee engagement, and more fulfillment at work. Another word for leadership development is “personal development.” Leadership development done “on purpose” can lead to teams that have a sense of ...
Views: 974(2 votes) - Emotional Intelligence: Mind Has Heart - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2013 from Valencia RayEmotional intelligence helps us to be smarter about our emotion. Emotion is a part of our mind-body connection. It is another expression of our intelligence. Feelings are the effect of our emotional perception. They add color to our lives. I say "perception" because how we look at a situation ...
Views: 970 - The Power of Networking: Heart, Lies, and Videotapes - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2011 from Valencia RayNetworking and personal power are vital to growing your business and being a successful leader. This is true whether you are a one-person business, a professional, or a corporate leader running a billion-dollar business. Nowadays, this is truer than ever. We have systematically been taught in ...
Views: 968(2 votes) - Are You Good Enough Yet? - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Valencia RayCore confidence is the key to breaking the never-ending cycle of not being "good enough". As you know "good enough" is relative so how could you ever make this determination as a way to being? It is so connected to "doing" that you will always have something else to, well, do. Basing your ...
Views: 963 - Purposeful Living: Clarify and Distinguish Vision from Mission - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2011 from Valencia RayOur life purpose platform needs to be built on a foundation built upon the rock of our truth, who we feel (with heart) we are, not just who we “think” (head) we are. Belief is based more in a sense of feeling, not thinking, actually. I’ve discovered the hard way, that allowing society and ...
Views: 960(1 vote) - 3 Key Reasons Why Self-Love Is Not Narcissism And Why Should You Care - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2010 from Valencia RayConfidence is a key element to empowerment. If you can't speak up, take risks or all too often buckle under the opinions of others, your gifts and talents will likely never reach authentic expression. Let me say that confidence from the core, authentic self is what I am referring to. Not the ...
Views: 959 - Going Through Hell? – Keep Going! - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2012 from Valencia RayEmotions are contagious, and how you focus your attention can either keep you stuck on how you feel or switch gears to where you want to go. It is our attention that is sitting in the driver’s seat of our mind. Most people seem not to know this. They think that if they keep talking about ...
Views: 959 - Transforming Your Business Starts with Transforming YOU - by Submitted on Jan 03, 2012 from Valencia RayTransformation feels scary. Why? It is mostly because we’ve been conditioned unwittingly to think of change as “life threatening.” Granted, we have an instinct for survival wired into our brain, yet we have a greater authority – conscious choice – that can temper the violence of this ...
Views: 957 - Collaborative Change is Creating the New Order of Business - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2011 from Valencia RayCollaboration is the here to stay; the days of “The Lone Ranger” are numbered and rightfully so. It is unnatural to live isolated with the old ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality and this was only a paradigm anyway. Disregarding others is like cutting off your nose to spite your own face. ...
Views: 950 - 5 Keys to Attracting the Change that You Want in Business and Life - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2011 from Valencia RayBusiness and personal life are directly connected, with the common denominator being you, haven’t you noticed? It’s time to integrate ourselves into the whole being that we are. Law of Attraction is simply this: the vibrational pattern of energy from thought and feeling that is affecting your ...
Views: 948 - Transformational Leadership: A Real Change Leader Leads Change - by Submitted on May 21, 2013 from Valencia RayA real change leader is courageous in dealing with personal growth - changing one's self. Let's be clear here; personal growth is not about 'fixing yourself'. It is about learning and growing to reach more of your true potential. A leader will need to acknowledge her or his fear and keep moving ...
Views: 935(1 vote) - Focus on the Core Four for More Effective Productivity - by Submitted on Jun 26, 2012 from Valencia RayEffective productivity comes from managing our energy, not our time. Time is a construct, and everyone gets the same amount every day. The issue is not how much time as much as it is how much energy and how you are using and renewing. Energy is the capacity to do work. When we re-energize the ...
Views: 934 - I Believe What I Believe Until… - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2012 from Valencia RayI believe what I believe until I change my mind. Seasons change. And you have a birthright and choice to change yours too when it is expedient to do so. It’s not about what you believe as right or wrong as much as it is expanding your sense of self-actualization (as Maslow would have said), ...
Views: 926 - Self Esteem - Who is That Mean Girl and Why is She Still Bullying Me? - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Valencia RaySelf-esteem and self-image make a huge difference in the level of success you can have not only in your business, but it will affect relationships and even health. There have actually been studies that show that low self-esteem lowers your health, as for one thing, it impacts your susceptibility ...
Views: 922 - Reaching True Potential Requires Self-Trust - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2012 from Valencia RayReaching true potential is easier said than done. We’ve conditioned our brain and mind to trust outside of our self. Once I garnered the courage to color outside the boundaries of what I was informed from those around me to be true, I really began to grow. Here’s the catch: I had to learn to ...
Views: 914(1 vote) - Visioning by Design: What’s the Difference Between Thinking and Believing? - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2011 from Valencia RayLaw of Attraction is tied to what I call “visioning by design.” Visioning by design is applicable to your business or to your personal life. As an eye surgeon, vision has always been near and dear to my heart in the literal sense, and as someone who has always had an interest in personal growth ...
Views: 913 - Empower Up and Win From the Inside Out! - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2010 from Valencia RayConfidence from my point of view is about letting go of the stories that block the light and power that you already are. It is about, as Robert Browning said: "There is an inmost center in us all, where truth abides in fullness;....and, to know, rather consists in opening out a way where the ...
Views: 910(2 votes) - The Paradox of Declining Happiness in Women - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2011 from Valencia RayI came across a study by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers in the American Economic Journal: the link is at the end of this post. The conclusion was essentially that women are not happier despite educational gains, social status and higher levels of economic power; in fact maybe they are less ...
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