SelfGrowth.comThe Self Improvement Guide

About Login Browse Topics Create Professional AccountCreate Account

Home/
Articles

Browse SelfGrowth articles

Loading the searchable article library…

SelfGrowth.comThe Self Improvement Guide

Explore experts, guides, articles, videos, and events by topic.

Explore

All topics Experts Guides Articles Videos

Platform

About SelfGrowth Websites Newsletters Events Become an Official Guide Contact

Compliance

Legal

Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Cookie Policy

Your choices

Privacy Requests

Accounts

Personal account Create Professional Account Become a Contributor

SelfGrowth helps readers explore personal growth topics with clear paths into guides, experts, and related resources.

Home/
Experts/
William G JR Covington/
Articles

Articles by William G JR Covington

Browse published articles attributed to William G JR Covington, with full-archive search.

articles: 22

Explore

TopicsBrowse every topic ExpertsFind people ArticlesRead guidance WebsitesOpen resources EventsSee sessions VideosWatch clips

⌕

SortRecommended Most viewed Most recent Highest rated Alphabetical

Showing 1–22

By William G JR CovingtonJan 14, 20051 topic

The Achiever's Bias for Action

Copyright 2005 by Dr. William G. Covington, Jr. A bias for action separates doers from mere dreamers. Action leaves something in its wake. People who leave legacies are action-oriented. They don't wait for ideal circumstances, they act regardless of what is happening around them. Action reveals inner thoughts. It is the means by which those thoughts take the form of physical reality. John Locke said as much when he noted, "The actions of men are the best interpreters of thei

Primary topic: Empowerment

4,408 views4.5/5 (2)

By William G JR CovingtonJun 7, 20101 topic

Clutter Can Be A Positive Influence

Rather frequently we're encouraged to clean out clutter at home and work. However, I'd like to present an alte ate viewpoint as I point out the positive aspects of accumulating various items. Collectibles contain messages for both the person owning them and visitors. They say a lot about a person's interests and background. A house or office filled with books sends a message of an erudite occupant. Photographs on the wall are an indication of monumental moments in the person

Primary topic: Attitude and Perspective

Attitude and Perspective

1,661 views5/5 (1)

By William G JR CovingtonFeb 22, 20041 topic

Looking at the Significance of Relationships in Career Advancement

copyright 2004 William G. Covington, Jr. PhD God created us as social entities. We influence other people and they influence us throughout our lives. Being aware that this is the way we are can be an advantage if we use this information in a positive way. This article offers some insight on how to maximize this understanding of the influence of relationships. Relationships are desirable in that they help you to connect with something larger than yourself. People who live in

Primary topic: Relationship Advice

Relationship Advice

1,402 views3/5 (1)

By William G JR CovingtonNov 19, 20041 topic

The Power of Positive Reading

Copyright 2004 by William G. Covington, Jr. PhD The reason reading is so vital is because it determines the focus of your mind. A passive person accepts whatever information is send by default. The environment determines such a mindset and usually that means negative input. This is an arena where the advantages of taking control over one's thoughts are significant in seeing results. Thoughts determine action. Focused action leads to accomplishment. Feeding the right thoughts

Primary topic: Time Management

Time Management

7,770 views

By William G JR CovingtonFeb 12, 20051 topic

Education Is An Investment in Yourself

copyright 2005 by Dr. William G. Covington, Jr. An education is an investment that takes both time and money. It's an intangible commodity, but well worth the cost. At least that's the opinion of Benjamin Franklin who wrote, "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." Education is more than formal schooling. It is holistic, encompassing all of life. Everyone you meet knows something

Primary topic: Empowerment

7,332 views

By William G JR CovingtonSep 25, 20041 topic

The Mysterious Power of Consistency

Copyright 2004 by Dr. William G. Covington, Jr. One of the "behind the scenes" principles tapped by successful people is their ability to persevere, to keep on being productive in spite of circumstances. Consistent achievement leads to desired consequences. It is the ability to apply oneself to the tasks that lead to the fulfillment of a goal. Consistency is the opposite of working only when one feels inspired. Persistence requires discipline. A person waiting for inspirati

Primary topic: Time Management

Time Management

4,641 views

By William G JR CovingtonMar 18, 20051 topic

Ten Steps To Tapping the Creative Power of the Subconscious Mind

Copyright 2005 by William G. Covington, Jr. PhD Formal education emphasizes the left hemisphere of the brain, the part that processes information in a rational, logical way. However, in recent years, there has been increased interest in exploring the overlooked right hemisphere which houses the intuitive, creative activities. Some people have been so focused on the logical side that they have largely ignored the value of developing this less explored arena. It should be not

Primary topic: Creativity

3,062 views

By William G JR CovingtonJul 22, 20041 topic

Balancing Structure and Flexibility in Goal Achievement

copyright 2004 William G. Covington, Jr. PhD Structure is important in maintaining achievement over a period of time. Creative people sometimes seem to desire a lack of structure because the right hemisphere of the brain is stimulated when less structure is apparent, however on closer reflection the key seems to be balance. There is something to be said for structure and looseness in the life of people seeking to make a mark. Structure is the side of the coin related to dis

Primary topic: Creativity

2,452 views

By William G JR CovingtonMay 11, 20051 topic

What Creative People Do to Stimulate and Maintain Passion

Copyright 2005 by Dr. William G. Covington, Jr. Creative people operate within a "dialectical tension between involvement and detachment" write psychology professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Passion can only come where strong emotions are present. Emotions will not be activated when one is working on a project about there this is apathy. Creativity is fed and sustained by love. Passionate work gives a person the opportunity to define himself through an expression of energies.

Primary topic: Creativity

2,353 views

By William G JR CovingtonJan 6, 20121 topic

You Cannot Not Influence

Influence is ubiguitous and subtle. It is cyclical in that we are constantly being influenced as we influence others. In fact subtle influence is often more effective than overt attempts to change other people because it reaches people who don't have their defences up. Young people are influenced by both the content delivered in classes and the manner of the teacher. Relational influence is coupled with content expertise for pedagogical reception at two levels. Tom Morris no

Primary topic: Relationship Advice

Relationship Advice

1,891 views

By William G JR CovingtonOct 20, 20041 topic

Have a Purpose, Seize the Day, and Make a Difference

Copyright 2004 by Dr. William G. Covington, Jr. A sense of purpose gives one an advantage in seeking to see dreams fulfilled. Purpose enables an individual to ralize that a difference can be made that has desirable consequences. Purpose provides the impetus to continue when the challenges get difficult. Herodotus put it this way: "It is better by a noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half of the evils we anticipate, than to remain in cowardly listlessness for

Primary topic: Empowerment

1,378 views

By William G JR CovingtonNov 28, 20111 topic

Turning Dreams Into Actions That Create Destiny

Random acts can be compared with purposeful behaviors in that the latter is intentional, while the former is pointless. Dreams are fulfilled when activities not pertinent to their accomplishment are eliminated and replaced by focused efforts. William Jennings Bryan opined, "destiny is not a matter of chance; but a matter of choice." He went on to add, "it is not a thing to be waited for. It is a thing to be achieved." Destiny is created by active decision-makers, not passive

Primary topic: Goal Setting

1,342 views

By William G JR CovingtonMay 13, 20111 topic

Innovators Overcome Peer Pressure

Copyright 2011 Healthy relationships can become dysfunctional if they prohibit one from "marching to the beat of a different drum," the one uniquely designed for only one set of ears. Peer pressure is an intangible force leading to either positive or negative outcomes, depending on how it is used. Cory Doctorow notes, "the accolades of your peers is very exciting always." However excessive attention to the opinion of others can inhibit a person from risk-taking that could le

Primary topic: Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

1,315 views

By William G JR CovingtonMay 21, 20091 topic

What is Your Before/After Result?

Since success only comes after exerting effort, achievers attain results to the extend that they are pushed beyond their comfort zones. Regardless of the arena, a "before and after" process occurs whereby one is transformed in the process of contending successfully. Take education as one arena. After completing a writing course, a person should be better at conveying thoughts on paper than before taking the course, but in the process of learning, there were challenges to be o

Primary topic: Creativity

1,290 views

By William G JR CovingtonFeb 18, 20071 topic

Imagination: The Key to Dream Fulfillment and Creative Expression

Imagination is the foundation upon which breakthroughs that improve life's quality are made. Just one thought, if pursued and realized can have substantial positive outcomes. Writing in the early 1900s, French psychologist Theodule Ribot noted that the inventive process comes from desire, which arouses the images that the imagination arranges and combines. So it's a combination of having a well-prepared mind that is receptive to adapting what one knows to a new context. Jose

Primary topic: Creativity

1,284 views

By William G JR CovingtonJul 1, 20081 topic

Creatively Building A Support Network

Frequently people think of applying creativity to accomplishing a task. But building a support system of like-minded achievers can be approached from a creative perspective as well. Keep in mind connecting with other people not only helps you to get ahead in your career, it also can enhance your quality of life. Dr. Anne Paris notes, "Revolutionary understandings in clinical psychology now suggest that healthy interpersonal relationships are the fuel for optimal emotional, c

Primary topic: Business Networking

Business Networking

1,258 views

By William G JR CovingtonMay 18, 20101 topic

Mentorship As An Investment Paying Dividend

As a professor, it is rewarding when a former student seeks my advice long after they have graduated. True respect is earned, not demanded. Leaders that rely on formal authoritative structures for compliance do not connect with the hearts of their subordinates. They may temporarily have the individual's submission to fulfill the tasks at hand, but the respect that comes from willing cooperation is lacking. "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in ot

Primary topic: Relationship Advice

Relationship Advice

1,225 views

By William G JR CovingtonMay 5, 20081 topic

Better Choices Result in an Enhanced Quality of Life

One of the paradoxes of life is that in giving of yourself whether through your time, talent or other resources, you receive. It is in serving other people that the quality of your own life is enhanced. Service becomes a paradigm of the mind as it moves a person from a consumer to a producer mentality. A consumer takes resources, while a producer is the creative agent through which resources are generated. It could be in a song written, a service performed, a problem solved,

Primary topic: Behavior Modification

Behavior Modification

1,218 views

By William G JR CovingtonSep 5, 20051 topic

Thoughts as Things, Seeds, Destinies, and Definitions

copyright 2005 by William G. Covington, Jr. PhD Thoughts might be intangible but they are real. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote about the reality of these unseen forces and how managing them can have significant consequences. If you do not control your thoughts, you usually limit what goes on in your mind to whatever happens to be occurring in your environment. Thoughts are real. What is meant by that statement if that thoughts are formations of energy in the brain. They exi

Primary topic: Creativity

1,200 views

By William G JR CovingtonJun 13, 20111 topic

Self-Mastery is Power in Action

An infant cannot even control his bodiy functions. Most adolescents can't control extreme swings in their emotions because of peer pressure. There's no power of control in either case. Sadly, adults who are insecure have never learned to control themselves either. They abrogate control to other people, circumstances,and myriad other exte al influences. Centuries ago Seneca observed this tendency when he noted, "most powerful is he who has mastered himself in his own power."

Primary topic: Mind Control

1,179 views

By William G JR CovingtonJan 10, 20111 topic

Tips for Psychologically Healthy Goal-Setting

Stress occurs from setting unrealistic goals. Self-imposed pressure does nothing to enhance the quality of life. A goal might be met, but the price paid is not necessarily worth the effort. Setting goals in a healthy context can have positive ramifications in that both process and result are considered. The tips this article recommends are offered in the spirit of enjoying both the "journey" of goal attainment along with the intended results. 1. Backward Design. By looking a

Primary topic: Goal Setting

1,008 views

By William G JR CovingtonApr 12, 20081 topic

Discover Hidden Opportunities In Difficult People

Conflict is inevitable in relationships whether socially or at work. Some are minor, others can lead to severe stress. It may not be possible to eliminate conflict, but learning how to deal with it appropriately can enhance the quality of life by reducing stress and improving relationships. With that truth established let's consider how this negative can be turned into a positive and interacting with difficult people can lead to a desired outcome. See strife as the enemy, no

Primary topic: Relationship Advice

Relationship Advice

920 views

Back to top ↑