Applying What You Learn In Self-help Books

2015-10-092015-10-09 ~ adminlife

“You are essentially who you create yourself to be and all that occurs in your life is the result of your own making.” ― Stephen Richards, Think Your way to Success: Let Your Dreams Run Free

How to Apply What You Read in Self-Help Books

Self-help is an ancient tradition that is still going strong. Long before there were 250 varieties of chicken soup for the soul, advice-seekers were looking for answers in the Tao Te Ching or the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.

Today, self-help is an $11 billion industry, with Amazon listing almost half a million choices in this popular category. According to some estimates, up to one-half of American adults have bought at least one title on weight loss, relationships, or other common concerns.

How do you find what you need in a selection so vast? Consider these tips for shopping for self-help books and translating what you read into concrete action.

What to Look For

Check the science. Remember that you’re investing your hopes as well as the cover price of the book. Does it make realistic claims? Do the reviews suggest that it’s psychologically sound? Look closely at the author’s credentials and experience.
Follow your faith. You may have an instant affinity with writers who share your religious beliefs. What are other members of your congregation reading?
Know the target audience. Publishers often market to specific demographics. For example, the biggest buyers of self-help books are upper-income women on the east and west coasts. Ensure that the message seems pertinent to you.
Feel engaged. Enjoy some laughter and entertainment while you’re enriching yourself. You’ll probably pay more attention to the text if you like the writing.
Browse multiple categories. All kinds of books are taking a self-help angle. You may find the information you’re looking for in memoirs and fiction, as well as psychology and business.
Stay up to date. Recent research may cast doubts on certain conclusions in books that used to be bestsellers. For example, many doctors and nutritionists now say that it’s okay to eat eggs regularly even if you’re watching your cholesterol.

How to Apply What You Read

Consider counseling. While you can find valuable information in books, some situations may call for extra assistance. Talking with a therapist allows you to receive individual feedback and access medical care if necessary.
Think critically. However popular a book is, you still need to evaluate whether it works for you. Beware of extravagant claims like, “Become a millionaire in thirty days!”
Take small steps. Big changes often start with simple tasks. Look for tips that you can implement right away to build momentum and confidence.
Go back for more. Some critics joke that self-help books don’t work because at least 80% of consumers buy more than one. Would you give up on a restaurant just because you wanted to eat again the next day? Becoming happier and stronger is a life-long process.
Be flexible. You’re one of a kind. Check that a book encourages you to adapt the program to your own style. You might like to read a work cover to cover or you might browse chapters for takeaways you can try out immediately.
Prepare for lapses. Sick children and leaky roofs can interfere with your plans. Does the author suggest what to do if you’re looking to get back on track after a few delays?
Track your progress. How will you know if your reading is paying off? Some books have forms for setting and evaluating your goals, or you can design your own. Measuring your success creates great motivation.

Self-help books can teach you how to talk with your teenager, manage your diabetes, or enjoy more peace of mind. Shop wisely and put your new knowledge to work in your daily life.

Michael W

Photo credits: “150 Psychology and junk self-help literature”- Helder da Rocha

CC license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Self Help Takes Action

2015-04-012015-03-29 ~ adminlife

“If you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Gather courage to believe that you can succeed and leave no stone unturned to make it a reality.” ― Roopleen

We hear and read a lot about self help. In order to make self help effective, you need to take action.

The article below discusses this aspect of self help.

The Importance of Action in Self Help – By Lee P Jones

Self help is not simply a matter of understanding one’s circumstances and how they developed. It doesn’t end with the visualization of a better alternative. Self help is a fundamentally psychological matter, but that doesn’t mean that it occurs only on some sort of theoretical, “thought level.” Genuine self help methods do involve a great deal of consideration and introspection, but they also demand a subsequent action in order to reach one’s goals.

At the core of any successful self help experience, there is action.

Many critics seem suspicious of self help measures because they believe they work purely based on thought. It is true that positive thinking techniques and other thought-based strategies are popular means to self-fulfillment. However, even these entirely “mental” processes require concrete action in terms of directed thinking. Every episode of self help centers upon taking actions.

That is also why so many efforts at self improvement fail. Before we can take action, in most cases, we have to develop a clear understanding of who we are and why we behave in certain ways. That deeply introspective process can leave many people overwhelmed or “burnt out” in a hurry.

There is also the problem of habit. By and large, our limitations as individuals are the byproduct of bad behavioral habits developed over time. One of the most common problems is the habit of procrastination and other “lazy” tendencies. Even the most well-intended self help practitioners can find themselves in a difficult situation early in their journey. They have to get over the “habit hump” in order to take action. Their natural inclination to avoid that kind of effort can be a barrier to success.

However, it’s a barrier that must be conquered. Absent action, nothing changes. Regardless of one’s awareness of a need for change, things will roll along in similar fashion unless changes are actually made.

In fact, taking the first steps toward self help without following up with action can actually make matters more difficult. That’s because a heightened awareness of the need for change, coupled with inaction, can be stressful and anxiety-provoking.

Intellectualizing one’s circumstances indefinitely and procrastinating instead of taking action is really the antithesis of self help. So many people do just that, however, that some begin to question the underlying validity of self help processes. They see so many people who have seemingly embraced self help techniques without transforming their lives in any visible fashion. What those onlookers don’t realize is that a lack of action based on the knowledge gained is what is preventing success–not the technique itself.

Action matters and anyone who hopes to successfully engage in self help needs to find a way to overcome the “habit hump” that prevents it.

There’s no “one size fits all” solution for that problem…

However, there are many ways to get the job done. One popular method is to increase accountability by sharing your plans or goals with others. This tends to create a natural drive to get things started. Others find that reading, watching, or listening to particularly inspirational materials can give them the “bump” they need to get started.

Regardless of the method used to initiate the first wave of action, the good news is that, in time, the new active habit will replace the previous pattern of procrastination. Once one begins to see that happening, they will begin to truly maximize the value of their chosen self help strategy.

Do you have a plan? Have you taken the first steps to building a better future? Do you understand your goals and have an idea of what you will need to achieve them? If so, you are perfectly positioned to have a truly transformative experience. Now, all that is standing in your way is the critical last element of the self help equation-action.

Find a way to take action. Think about your goals and follow their inspiration. Seek out encouragement and energy wherever you may find it. Get the proverbial ball rolling as soon as you possibly can. Once you begin taking action, you can move toward your goals and the habit of taking control of your life and destiny will surely crowd out your previously-held “instincts” toward inactivity and procrastination.

You can get yourself Free Instant Access to 24 life changing self improvement books, audios and video, today over at http://www.mindpowers.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_P_Jones
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Action-in-Self-Help&id=1794771

Michael

To discuss what a life coach can do for you and your motivation, and to schedule a session with Michael, use the contact form below.

Michael is a certified Life Optimization coach as well as a Law of Attraction and Law of Attraction Wealth coach.

Expect to Be Successful – 8 Steps to Follow

2015-03-112015-03-17 ~ adminlife

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.” ― Vince Lombardi

If you expect to be successful, you will be successful. Success is a matter of belief in your abilities. See what the author has to say about the 8 steps to success in life.

Eight Steps to Success in Life – Can You Expect to Be Successful? – By Kevin J. John

Every day you have to face up to an increasing number of challenges, just keeping your head above water is hard. Can you really expect to be successful? The answer is yes you can – and the more you expect success the more likely you are to achieve it!

An extensive study of successful people has shown that one of the important factors in their success was not their opportunities early on in life or the difficulties they faced. It was something much simpler. The difference was whether they expected to be successful or not.

Let me repeat that important point. People who expect to be successful are more likely to be successful.

What you think is what you are

One of the eight steps to success in life is to maintain a positive attitude. This is especially true when it comes to your expectations of success. If you expect to be a successful person, you will spend the majority of your time thinking of yourself as successful. What you think about is what you become.

Consider two people. The first person fully and confidently expects to be successful in life. The second person fully expects to fail. We’ll start them off with the same opportunities and problems to overcome…

If you expect success you will encounter the same challenges as the other person, but you won’t get put off by the problems you encounter. The successful person views problems as learning opportunities or at worst, nothing more than minor delays on the way to inevitable success.

On the other hand, if you expect failure, you’re going to find it very discouraging every time something goes wrong. Problems you encounter are just going to reinforce your expectations of failure. Problems are seen as roadblocks and major pitfalls as you struggle to maintain your status quo. Very soon, you’re going to be falling behind that person with higher expectations of success.

Improve your success quotient

The chances are you expectations of success vary from day to day and with the different goals you are trying to achieve in your life. If you are attempting something that you are confident is going to be easy for you, you will have a high expectation of success and a very good chance of being successful.

On the other hand, if you are tackling a really daunting task, your expectations of success will be much lower…

The important thing is your average expectation of success. If you expect to succeed at most things and just fail occasionally you are likely to have a successful life. If you expect to fail at most things and just occasionally succeed, your life will be correspondingly less successful.

Wherever you are now, if you want more success in life you need to work on improving your expectations of success. Applying the principles of the eight steps to success can help you to raise your expectations of success and make you more successful.

Would you like to learn more about eight steps to success in life?

You can get a free e-course the success principle . Visit my website for more resources, articles, and support materials about success and personal growth.

Kevin John has spent many years helping businesses owners, aspiring business owners, and private individuals to develop the understanding and skills needed to achieve the success that they want.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_J._John
http://EzineArticles.com/?Eight-Steps-to-Success-in-Life—Can-You-Expect-to-Be-Successful?&id=576465

Michael

To discuss what a life coach can do for you and your motivation, and to schedule a session with Michael, use the contact form below.

Michael is a certified Life Optimization coach as well as a Law of Attraction and Law of Attraction Wealth coach.

Life Success in 5 Steps

2015-03-082015-03-07 ~ adminlife

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

Life success is inside everyone. We just need to know how to set it free.

The article below gives a 5 step process to release your success.

A 5 Step Recipe For More Life Success – By Michelle L. Casto

Despite what most self-help experts will tell you, there are no real secrets to being a success. The fact is that you have everything you need inside of you right now to become a huge success. The challenge is to excavate your treasure and bring it to the light so that everyone can see and appreciate who you are and what you can do.

You Were Born for Greatness and to Succeed

Human beings are given a blank canvas called Life upon which we can create our very own work of art, painting whatever picture we desire. Unfortunately, we have not received education in the ways of success, learning things like the value of imagination and visualization. Most of us never even heard about the basic Laws of the Universe (attraction, retribution, polarity, creation) until adulthood.

We were misinformed by well-meaning people and institutions that told us that success is hard to come by, a struggle. This is fiction! And it is time for You to achieve the dreams you have dreamed about.

Bring Forth the Treasure Within You

The treasure that is within you are your God-given gifts, as well as having the ability to trust in a higher power who wants you to be healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Success comes first in thought, then in energy, and finally in form.

To be more successful, start first by thinking of yourself as a success. Look around and recognize the success that you are already are. Choose to believe in who you are and your abilities. Then you will intuitively know the right actions to take, which will easily lead you to the best possible outcome.

We’ve been misled to think that success is a destination or something tangible you can see, like money in the bank or a big fancy house.

Success is a feeling, a state of being, where you feel satisfied, joyful, fulfilled, and like you are doing your very best. The old sign of success was external, and about what you have. The new sign is internal-what I call Soul Success, and is from the inside out, based on how happy and on purpose you feel.

Benjamin Disraeli said, “Success is constancy of purpose.” This quote emphasizes the need to live our lives on purpose consistently and persistently. The ultimate success in life is to answer the age-old questions of “Who I am?” and “Why I am here?”

When you answer these essential questions, you can begin to master the most important lessons of all— who you were born to be and what you came here to do. This will make setting and achieving goals much easier because they will be in alignment with your soul’s vision and purpose in life.

Success is attracted to people who provide value and who invest in themselves. So to attract more success, be success in each and every moment. This means seeing and experiencing success now.

There are 5 ways I have found that allow my mind to become set for success:

1) completion 2) deletion 3) creation 4) organization 5) delegation.

When you feel the need to have “instant success,” organize something, complete something, remove something, delegate, and create something. Each of these actions are instant energy shifters and allow you to train your brain to see success, and therefore, “be success.”

5 Step Recipe For Success

There are also steps that you can use to be more successful— follow your inspirations where they lead, set clear intentions, apply focused attention, and take massive action daily. A formula for success is:

Inspiration + Intention + Attention+ Action=SUCCESS

1. Follow Inspirations

This step involves listening to and responding to the inklings, messages, and inspirations your inner self is sending you. It is wise to honor that information and follow where it leads you.

2. Set Clear Intentions

This step involves setting your mind towards a specific outcome is (remain open to something even better), and you fully believe it will come to pass. It is wise to write your intentions down on paper.

3. Apply Focused Attention

This step involves clearing your mind, bringing your whole self by giving your full attention to the task at hand. It is wise to practice a grounding or relaxation exercise prior to beginning.

4. Take Massive Action

This step involves doing something every single day to move you towards your goal. It is wise to develop and utilize a strategy action plan.

5. Beware of Unchallenged Beliefs

Now that you know what success really requires, what is stopping you from getting started? Often it is limiting beliefs.

You probably mistakenly believe that you are not good enough, smart enough, etc. These beliefs are just lies you have told yourself that you have come to believe. And it is essential that you uproot any and all beliefs that limit you.

Always remember the essential Truth that you already have all that you need to attract more success and happiness, you just need to learn to access your inner power. I have personally worked with clients who have turned their lives around from being divorced, bankrupt, physically unwell to happily in love, prosperous and healthy in a few short months. So, no matter what your present life circumstances, even if they seem less-than-ideal, you can become even more successful starting this very moment by applying these simple steps.

Unconscious people often have hope without action, and wish without doing. You are different. You are aware and conscious, and know that to access the success that is already there for you, will have to take 100% responsibility for your life, find out what you really want, and then make the required internal changes to get harmoniously aligned your desires and dreams. (This is where the “inner work” comes in, where you read, study, and get mentored by those who have been where you are going.)

The more you know, honor, love and develop yourself, the more Success becomes attracted to you. Set your sights high, dig deep, be teachable, coachable, actionable and your Big Success will arrive right on time.

Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D. Candidate is known as the Soul Diva Coach, Speaker, and Author of the Get Smart! LearningBook Series. She has authored 3 books and a dozen workbooks on life empowerment topics. Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching, she helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world.

To receive your free special report, You Can Transform Your Life Now visit http://www.smartlifechanges.com

Get a free chapter on Soul Success at http://www.brightlightcoach.com

Contact her for a complimentary 30 minute session: m.casto@brightlightcoach.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_L._Casto
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-5-Step-Recipe-For-More-Life-Success&id=2265883

Michael

To discuss what a life coach can do for you and your motivation, and to schedule a session with Michael, use the contact form below.

Michael is a certified Life Optimization coach as well as a Law of Attraction and Law of Attraction Wealth coach.

What is Success?

2015-01-12 ~ adminlife

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

We can all learn from this article. Success is personal as well as something that you need to find and keep working at.

What A Duck Taught Me About Success! – John Jacobsen

In a very small village lived a wise old prophet. The prophet spent his last years sharing wisdom, answering questions and giving advice to the people in the village. The people truly respected and loved the prophet because his advice was always helpful and his answers always precise.

One day a young boy from the village decided to trick the prophet by asking a question that would be impossible to answer. The boy found a small live duck, concealed it behind his back and slowly approached the prophet. In a mocking voice the boy asked, ‘Prophet, I hold a duck behind my back. Tell me; is the duck dead or alive?’ The prophet paused for a moment and gazed into the boy’s eyes. In a whisper he responded, ‘If I say the duck is dead, you will show me its live body. If I say the duck is alive, you will quickly choke it, and then show me its dead body. Therefore, I tell you the duck is neither alive nor dead. The duck is whatever you decide it will be.’

I heard that story many years ago, and it made a strong impression on me. It reminded me that each of us have the power to decide our own fate and destiny. For each of us, our potential for success is like the duck in this story.

‘Your success will be whatever you decide it will be.’

For many people success is a very personal but subjective type of thing. I understand the personal part; however the subjective part must be made more objective or concrete so you can recognize your success when you arrive there. Without some type of objectivity as to what your success will feel, sound, taste, smell, and look like, you won’t know when you’ve succeeded, or if you’ve already unknowingly succeeded. It’s similar to trying to kick a field goal without knowing where the goal post is. Simply put, you cannot be successful unless you first define and understand what success means to you.

The dictionary defines ‘success’ as the achievement of something desired, planned or attempted. Although that definition is accurate, it does not touch upon our own individual visions. What are your measurements for success? What does success man to you? How will you know whether you are or are not successful if you have not yet defined what success means to you? Do you know what must specifically happen in your life, job, career, marriage or business for you to feel totally successful?

Some people use money as a measuring stick for success. If they have an abundance of money, they consider themselves successful; if their finances are in shambles, they consider themselves failures. Others believe that if money is your only motive for success, then you are already a failure. Some people feel very successful if they own a new car or a large house. Others may live in a modest apartment and use public transportation and they, too, feel successful because they are content where they are. Someone else may feel successful if he or she is the president of a large corporation. Others may be happy and fulfilled working in the mail room. In Hollywood, you’re considered successful if your name is in the gossip columns and not in the phone book.

To begin to define your own version of success, you can start by asking yourself two important questions:

1. What must specifically happen in my life for me to feel totally successful and completely fulfilled?

2. How will I know when I have achieved it?

Stop now and write out your answers to these two questions. It may take some time and serious thought; however they are the foundation for the rest of your life.

Answering these questions reveals your personal criteria. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers; your criteria is simply a measurement of what is important to you and a measurement of your values. Compare your criteria with your current life situation, and that assessment designates whether or not you’re a success, or at least if you’re on the right track. In my life, I feel fulfilled and successful when the following five areas are in balance:

1. I must have a very happy family life by feeling totally connected to my wife and children.

2. I must experience physical, emotional and mental health with vibrant energy.

3. I must be engaged in a labor of love.

4. I must feel that I am serving others.

5. My business must be prosperous.

These ‘success posts’ are my criteria for success. I strive to keep them constantly flourishing, and am happy to report that 85% of the time they are at the levels I desire. What could be more satisfying than knowing you are living up to the dream inside you? What could be more important than discovering your talents and developing them? What could be more fulfilling than doing what you love every day?

You were born to win! Success can be learned; it leaves clues and it has a formula. These clues and formulas of success are alive within you.

‘However, your definition of success or criteria must precede all of this.’

The moment you chose, define and more importantly ‘crystallize’ your vision, you will discover that it’s much easier to arrive— if you knew where you were going ahead of time. The duck is behind your back; what are you going to do with it; let it live or let it die?

Article Source:

About the Author

John Eric Jacobsen is the Co-founder and President of Jacobsen Business Seminars, Inc. John has
consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 1,000,000
people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the US. As a keynote speaker and
seminar leader, he addresses many people each year. http://jacobsenprograms.com/

Michael

To talk about business and other areas of life, please use the contact form below.