Concentration 102: A Ya-ttitude of Desire
May 12, 2008
Concentration 102: Desire
Desire is an important topic where it is related to your success. You will have noticed that I have touched on the subject many times during the writings, starting right from the first post: The 4-Step Plan to Success until this one here; and be sure we will be talking about it many more times. Desire, Your desire is one of the 4 secrets to your success. You really need an emotional desire backing everything you do in order to be successful. This is neither the time nor the place to go at tings half-hearted. Your success will be and is driven by your desire. It does not matter how and what you define your ultimate success; just know that desire is a leading factor in its achievement. Desire is what will bring “it” home for you! Yes, you are correct, there are other major attributes to your success; Desire is one, but of course your written plan, your Master Mind group and your mind shut off of all negative influence are your big four. Persistence in all four of these will get you where you want to be; but your desire to do it, be it and live it will make it happen.
Desire which is one of the hardest emotions to control, as it can bring as much negative into your life as positive if not controlled correctly, is a perfect place to discuss a new exercise for you to work on and perfect on your road to Ya-ttitude.
Concentration on Desire; a Ya-ttitude Adjustment
It is very natural to want to show and tell others all about what you know and what it is you are working on in your everyday life. By working on controlling these urges you will find a fantastic way to concentrate and strengthen your desires into a useful tool for your future.
Remember: You have a full plate of business to take care of in your life, so wasting time on idle gossip or being braggadocio is just not the focus you are looking for if you want to be the best you can be at all times.
The news you gather about others will serve you best locked behind closed doors of the mind. In both your short term and your long term you will be best served with keeping this info to yourself (of course circumstances will change this - but only in rare instances.) If you hear good news, fight the urge there as well - control yourself in both instances. This will really work your ability to control your desires and once you have the ability to control your desires you will attain the ability to focus it to greater use as well; your greater good and greater success.
If you get excited from good news try this. Fight the urge to tell the first person you meet all about the information. I know that this will require all of your will power to fight that desire, but work it, work it and make it happen; especially if this is a habit of yours. Work hard on your will power - I know you can do it and you know you can do it - we both can’t be wrong! Now once you feel you have it under control and the urge has passed and you have gone a while without spreading the news, go ahead and feel free to tell someone. But be sure you have overcome that desire; you have fought those urges and were able to tuck them away and move on! Be sure you have your emotions under control and in check and then go ahead and talk about it. Of course this works the same way with new that is not pleasant. Fight that urge, stow the information away behind those doors of the mind and when you are sure you have complete control then and only then you can share the news.
Say to yourself: “Nothing is going to cause me to lose control; I will tell no one - I am strong of will and desire and I can do this” Make it personal - Add your name in there - Talk to yourself as if you were doing this to someone else. Drive the control home! YOU Can do it! We know you can - don’t we!
You will find these experiences will benefit you in all phases of life. You will be looked upon as the cool-headed under-control leader, or that level-headed person we all need to go to when we need guidance. You will become that go-to guy in your life and in your Master Mind group. You will have taken another step towards your success and your Ya-ttitude.
Of course you must always look at the specific circumstance when you work this control, obviously there are times you need to react quick and move forward with the information; these exercises will make that quite clear to you.
You were given two ears and one mouth for a reason - work that reason to your advantage.
Remember: “He who rules his spirit is greater than he who rules a city.” -
And that is because you cannot rule the outside until the inside is under control.
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Concentration 101.2 and more: Time to Focus
May 7, 2008
Concentration 101.2 (thru .6) Time to Focus
A key element to the entire study of Ya-ttitude is Focus. While running on the treadmill, aren’t we supposed to find a spot to focus on and go-go-go? I remember when I played ball in my recent past. Our batting coach always reminded us about finding a spot on the pitcher and focus on that – watch the ball come out of that focus-spot and get to hacking. In life, knowledge is great, but focused knowledge is power, Desire is essential focused-desire is unbeatable and energy is always needed but focused energy bring home your success!
Today’s exercises are clearly focused on developing your focus!
101.2
Find a straight-back chair to sit in and have you a seat. Sit back in the chair, chin up and shoulders straight with your back resting against the chair. Then point your right arm out and make sure it is level with your shoulder. Turn only your head and look directly at your fingers. Palms should be downward-facing at this point and your eyes locked on the tips of your fingers. Now, work on keeping your arm perfectly still. Focus on your fingers and watch them intently. Your fingers will let you know if you are slipping in your attention and your control. Try this for one minute with the right arm and then one minute with the left arm at first, but eventually I want you to be able to do this for five minutes with no loss in control. Pay tight attention to your fingers and do not let your mind waiver, as once it does, so will those fingers.
101.3
Fill a small glass with water, and again sit in a similar fashion as in exercise 101.2. Hold the glass in your right hand, with your fingers, not centered in your palm. This time point your arm out directly in front of you. Hold steady now and focus on the waterline in the glass. That line will be your signal if there is a change in your focus and control. Hold that arm perfectly still and straight. Start with your right arm and then repeat this with the left. Being able to do this for one minute at first will be fantastic, but eventually I want you to be able to do this for 5 minutes on each arm. Practice this, hold steady your focus as it will allow you to hold steady your control. You can do it!
101.4
Here is one that you can work on all day long. You can and should do this one in all situations, at home and at work. It is time to watch your body. Well time to focus in on the movements of your body that is. Focus in on the movements of your muscles. The real key here is to see that you are not making unnecessary and unneeded extra motions and movements with your body. Be sure to keep all of your muscles at ease during the day and as you work this exercise. Keep your mind on staying relaxed. Control the tension and remain tension-free. Please pay close attention to anything – events, actions, words and people that may cause you to lose focus and tense up. Be sure to pay very close attention to what or who they are – even jotting down some notes if you can. Work on eliminating all useless gestures: eye rolling and hand waving to name but two. Eliminate the wasted energy by focusing your energy on the elimination of needless actions and movements.
This is an incredible skill and once acquired you will notice two amazing things:
1. How you are able to stay relaxed and at ease in all situations (imagine this skill during a job interview or a salary negotiation with your boss) and
2. How ill-at-ease those who cannot control their bodies are around someone who can. This will allow you an amazing advantage in most situations; imagine how much you can learn from others when you can focus in on them and be relaxed, always.
101.5
Sit comfortably in a chair and then slide it up close to a table. Lay your right hand on the table with your palm facing up. Make a fist, curing all of your fingers and wrapping it up with the thumb folded over neatly.
Time to relax and focus your mind.
Focus on your thumb, and slowly unfurl it. Watch it slowly and painstakingly as it moves up and away from the rest of your fingers. Then slowly do the same with your forefinger, watch closely, focus on the movements, pay close attention. Now slowly do it with the rest of your fingers, following the same guides as previous. Once they are all open, reverse the process. Again, slowly, focus in on just the movements of the fingers – focus your attention. Then switch hands and repeat the process. Continue to do this exercise until you have done it 5 times with each hand. Give it time. But over the next few days work on increasing the amount of times until you can comfortably do ten of these.
I bet this exercise will actually make you feel tired; but please continue to train your attention on your movements and your fingers. You must keep your attention at a highly-focused level or the value of this exercise will be lost.
101.6
Place your hand on your knee and fold all fingers except the forefinger into a fist. Your forefinger will basically be pointing out away from your knee. Move your finger up and down, slowly pay attention to only the movement of the finger, nothing else. Up and down at first, then right and left – focusing attentions on the moving finger. This one is much harder than you think as your mind will be looking for much more exciting things to do and think about; how exciting is watching the motion of your finger? This is quite boring for your mind, so you will really need to focus on the finger and work on keeping your concentration locked on the movements.
Make up a bunch of singular-body-movement exercises; Always being sure to focus in on the singularly moving part of your body. It is great training to come up with your own little singular-movement exercises and work on them – always paying attention and focusing in on the moving part only!
Main Point Here is keeping it simple! All your energy and focus must be locked in on that moving part only. You will notice that your mind really does want to wander away from its focus with this one and try to find something more interesting to think about – fight the urge – focus and pay attention!
I know, I know, I know - It sounds too simple and cheesy and corny; much too easy to be effective. Listen to me on this one, you will be absolutely amazed when you will notice (and in a very short amount of time,) that your mind and body control have become remarkable. You will have gained control over all of your muscles and movements and you will have learned incredible focus. Just imagine all the places you can use this to your advantage and all the places this will help you to achieve that ultimate goal and success. Even in simple everyday occurrences these skills will astound you. Next time you are in a bar or a club and you want to walk over to that guy or girl and start a conversation – this is a skill you will thank me for later. Job interviews with no nervousness and uncontrolled hand and body movements, meetings with you in total control even better focus during sex with your lover – Ya! now your thinking.
The person that can concentrate can gain full control over their body with their mind; you become your master not your slave.
Try them – You will be sending me those emails of gratitude shortly!
Note: Many of the excercises are a modernized, easier to use version of excercises originally introduced in 1935 By Dumont Theron. Obviously a man way ahead of his time.
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A weekend Cure
April 19, 2008
I think that it is time for a little practical application to our cure for abulia. I received many emails and some interesting thoughts and ideas, but here is my challenge to you. It is a one-to-two week challenge but the results will amaze you. For the next fourteen days (seven days for you non-believers - but you will be a believer) I want you to get out of your norm and try to break your habit of abulia - inability to decide. I want you to make quick decisions. I want you to pay close attention to what you are doing - concentrate - use your will power and work on it every minute of the day. You do not have to go crazy here, but I want you to make your decisions quicker for the next two weeks.
At first this may be a bit tough, but concentrate - keep your mind focused, and use your will power to accomplish this goal. When you feel that you may be losing a bit of concentration - just start to count from 100 backwards - and you will regain your concentration quickly. You are forced to concentrate when you do things out of the norm and counting backwards is out of the norm.
I also want you to make sure you get up at exactly the same time everyday for the next two weeks as well (humor me). Anything you wish to accomplish and everything you will accomplish always make sure you do it ahead of your initially scheduled time.
I live in the real world too, so any decisions that are of greater importance and decisions that may need some research should still get due process, but again, do it quicker!
As you learn to make quick decisions on little things, you will start to understand how to make quick decisions on bigger things. This is a tremendous skill to acquire and one that is a founding-block to your success.
Never procrastinate and please make that decision one way or another - do not worry about making a mistake - just make the decision and go with it!
Note: I would love to hear from you on how this is going and your results after one and two weeks. You can email me - or keep us all informed by commenting here!
Ben
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Ya-ttitude: Curing Abulia? -you decide!
April 17, 2008
Word of the Day
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Abulia\uh-BOO-lee-uh; uh-BYOO-\, noun:
Loss or impairment of the ability to act or to make decisions.
Abulia derives from Greek a-, “without” + boule, “will.”
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I have mentioned before that sometimes when I get a bit of writers block reading others writings or others books, blogs or posts are great ways of getting creative inspiration. I am guessing that Dictionary.com is a bit backed up on their email-sends, but this arrived in my email box this morning; and the little light bulb above my head started flashing brightly!
Abulia – it doesn’t even sound like a positive word. Sounds like the technical term a Doctor would use to describe the disease you are suffering from that there is no explanation for… Wait! It is a disease – a disease that 98% of people trying to be successful suffer from – Abulia.
Did your last visit to your own conscious mind end like this? “I am sorry ma’am but you are suffering from Abulia.” There is a cure but you are going to have to make a decision, can you do that? Wait; if you suffer from abulia can you make a decision? Is making a decision the cure to abulia? Bingo! Finding the cure to the most fatal disease to your future success is easy! Decide to find the cure and you’re cured!
Make A decision, any decision and get on with your positive life. Don’t just sit there and fear the results. You have faith in yourself and in your actions and abilities and one of the beautiful things about faith is that fear cannot stand it! So as you continue to allow your faith to grow your fear will diminish until the point your faith removes all fear.
Of course there will be times that you decide and it was wrong – so what! Pick yourself up and get back to it! Errors are part of the game – there is no perfect plan and often you will be on Plan D before you make it all come together and Plan R when you are all said and done – but – keep it going and make it happen for you!
We have spoken about it before and we will speak about it again, decision is the key to your long-term goal-achievement!
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Step One: Decide what it is you want to define as your goal, your plan and your definite purpose. Create a personal “buyer-persona.”
-Most successful companies create personas of the buyers they want to sell to – create a personal one to sell you!
Step Two: Write that plan down, detail it, and give it a timeline and work at it everyday!
- Write it – don’t type it out on your keyboard, or dictate it to someone else. You need to write it down and memorize it. You need to read it everyday and remind yourself of just what you’re after!
Step Three: Back that plan up with all the desire and emotion you can muster and then muster some more. The more you live your dream the more you will LIVE your dream! Shut out all the negative influences.
– treat yourself as you would a customer that you need to acquire! What would you do to make that sale, add that new volunteer, increase your web traffic, become the next Mayor of your City or lead your church choir? Back it up with all the force you can muster from within!
Step Four: Select a team of people who can and will help you attain this goal, this dream and your ultimate success. Find positive people who will help you every step of the way, but be sure to help them as much as they help you.
– All of the great business people in history have had a group of people they held near and dear. People they could fall back on when they needed to and when they did not. This is a two-way street though – they need you like you need them – or it does not work!
For those of you who have not read Emerson’s Essay on Compensation – it is time to dive in. The amazing thing about this essay is that no matter how many times you read it – you learn something new and not only will the little light bulb above your head start to blink – it will be like an 80’s Disco Strobe going off!
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Ya-ttitude: Lists Gone Amok!
April 15, 2008
I spend a great deal of my free time reading. I love books, but blogs have really become an obsession. I have all kinds of Google alerts that now tell me when key words are hit and send me all kinds of blogs to read. I have a well-defined long list of blogs I read almost everyday and at any given time you can find me giving my two cents around the blogosphere. (If you write your own blogs – please send me their locations – I’d love to read them too)
Recently – in emails, Google alerts, others blogs and all over the internet I have run into a very disturbing new trend the To-Don’t list (I do not know how new it is – but I have really started to see this in droves now – so maybe that is why I am realizing it?) Now here is the ultimate in stupid ideas, wastes of time, procrastination, negativity and ass-backward thinking. I wonder – was I clear on my opinions on the to-don’t list yet, because I do have harsher words for its uselessness but will refrain – I am a PG-13 blog.
Who comes up with these things? Do the leaders of Procrasti-NATION stay up all night with nothing better to do but think up sneaky plans to lure our hardworking people astray? Do the leaders of Procrasti-NATION have an army of mindless bots that they send out at night and infiltrate the internet with another series of useless weapons they can fire upon us? C’mon now? To-Don’t Lists? I know none of you are falling for this assault on your common sense and quick-thinking ability to weed out the crap in all situations… right?
The very use of the word don’t should have had you thinking there was an issue with this concept, but then again – these drones from Procrasti-NATION are not stupid in their sneaky ways, imagine when they come around and use their creativity for a positive use! They want to lead you away from the positive and the productive side of your lives, the side of your life where you work hard and play hard and enjoy all parts of your days, and draw you to the other side, the negative world. No reason to go there – just the mere mention of that gets the members of Procrasti-NATION all warm and fuzzy inside. We work on the positive side; the side that allows you to create and consume all that is positive – to share the wealth of your positive nature and to absorb the positive that others will bestow upon you.
So I say to you – who may have been fooled (though only temporarily, of course) tear up those to-don’t lists – because the only Item that should ever be on one is the TO-DON’T LIST itself!
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Ya-ttitude: Things that make you go Hmmm
April 10, 2008
Hey I just received this email from my daughter.
I agree - too much time on her hands - but it must be great to be just shy of your 18th Birthday and on Spring Break…
Does this mean I should move to Arizona and start that Golden Rule Corporation?
Greenberg:
The name of the family from the descendents of King David in the ancient times of Israel. Ancient Israelian prophets predicted that descendents from the Greenberg family would give birth to the Messiah in the freedomland desert. People today believe that the freedomland desert is in the United States possibly the southwest. The Greenberg Family is the Holy Family and the holders of the Davidic Covenant.
An example of Greenberg is a member of the Davidic Covenant, and a Descendent from Kind David and Solomon from ancient Israel.*
http://greenberg.urbanup.com/2896845
This has been a positive interruption from your hard work; brought to you from your friends with Ya-ttitude! All work and no fun makes - well you know what it makes - so - Take the time to have some fun. You need to understand that a great life is made up of a lot more than work. You need to find time to do things you enjoy, you need to find time to rest and to exercise - both mind and body and you need to find time to just have a grand old laugh!
*cut and pasted straight from Urban Dictionary - I know there are typo’s - but have to leave it as is!
(for those of you who are still lost - it is my Last Name)
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Ya-ttitude: The First Mission - Read All About It!
April 9, 2008
A while back I started to talk about developing a positive attitude –
Your Ya-ttitude. I think we have reached a point where we should start to set up a few anchor points that will start you on your way. I know that regardless of what our ultimate goals are finding different ways to make us shine is of paramount importance to us all, so let’s get going!
Keeping it simple:
I just want to make it clear to everyone reading that I am AS human as the rest of you and I too have days that are less than perfect (notice how I try to stay away fro saying or having “bad” days – if you can keep those REAL negative words out of your vocabulary and try to make an effort to turn those into positive statements – you are well on your way to being a positive person). I know and you know that “shit” happens. You need to realize that when these “not so positive” happenings enter your life it is a great opportunity for you to work on and test out your newly created, or “getting better everyday” Ya-ttitude. It is a great chance for you to get that shiny new you and that shiny new Ya-ttitude working for the betterment of YOU!
I think we are going to start this day with a few easy-to-do but OH so life changing skills for you to acquire, or embellish. They are so easy that you can get 2 of the first 3 sent to you every day in your email, and all you have to do is read them; nope I have no intention of spamming you or even asking you to sign up for a newsletter (not yet anyway – I have not gotten that far – Where is Melissa when you need her J ) For now I want you to do a few things for yourself and by yourself – build up that “go-getter” in you and really start a foundation for that Ya-ttitude that will ultimately bring you to your success!
Something I read:
This reminds me of a story related to those of us who spend some of our free time reading in an area of personal interest. It has been stated that if you read in an area of your interest for thirty minutes a day, within three years you will be known in your community. Add another two years to make five years all the while reading thirty minutes per day in the same area of interest, and you will be know nationally. Finally, add just two more years to total seven, and by reading just thirty minutes a day in this same area, you will be known internationally in this specialized field.
Why is this so?First of all, 98% of individuals do not have the self-discipline to read just thirty minutes a day and even more so, 98% of the people cannot stick with or determine a definite area of interest that they want to hitch their star to for peak performance.
I want you all to start your first mission(s) (there is no turning back now – so don’t even think about clicking off or going somewhere else) with these three simple things.
Word of the Day:
Dictionary.com: I want to you join dictionary.com’sword of the day email. If you click that link here it will take you straight to the sign up page.
Your brand-new word-of-the-day is one of the easiest ways to get a positive jolt every morning. I know what you’re thinking.
Corny, cheesy, this is stupid and way too simple; try me on this one, soon you will be in the habit of looking for these in your mail box every morning and the one day that you miss one – just watch how you react to it and watch as you go to the site and check your mail to see why it was missed. This is a great way to develop your learning skills – while getting a pure boost of vocabulary! Two great positive actions that will set you on the way to that Ya-ttitudeyou desire.
Remember: If you want to be successful – you need to look and SOUND successful!
Motivational Quotes:
Here are two addresses you can use to get yourself a motivational quote of the day sent to you. The first one is from a pretty cool blog I found on wordpress. You will get a motivational quote a day from one of the Neato’s and sometimes a little “quipish” humor or insight to go with it. The second is just a generic site that will email you similar quotes. I like the blog – so I have been using it most recently but there are many places to get this sent to you. Pick one of these two and make your life quick and easy – no “Procrastinational” web searches please!
http://theneatos.wordpress.com/
http://www.daily-inspirational-quotes.com/indexb.html
I figured while you were busy thinking cheesy and corny, I wanted to add this to your list.
Get ‘em, Read ‘em and Repeat ‘em!
Even better cut and paste them into a word document, make them all pretty-like and pass them around to your friends, family and coworkers. Ya! They may think you’re a bit crazy* at first – but similar to the missing dictionary.com email just watch how they come looking for you when you miss a day of giving them the quote! This is quite addictive – once the cheese-factor your feeling wears off.
*This reaction from friends and family or even coworkers is something we need to delve deeper into. People will always have reactions to you – look for the positives – ignore the negative ones!
Reading is Fundamental:
Read, read, read, read and did I mention that you should read? If you start your day with fifteen minutes of reading – spend another 30-45mins during the day reading just do some quick math and think of all the knowledge you will acquire.
Try this:
- Fifteen minutes in the morning, something positive, inspirational, and/or motivational.
- Fifteen to Thirty minutes at lunch. You sit down with that coffee and sandwich; bring a great book to read with you as well.
- Bedtime deserves a great positive reading as well. Give it fifteen minutes of your time.
I know all of you remember the “Reading is Fundamental” commercials on ABC Saturday Morning Television – and if you don’t click here for a refresher course – or some new original learning. Man were they right! But it is not just reading – it is very important for you to understand that the material you are reading plays a huge role in your attitude.
STOP READING THE NEWSPAPER!
And Watching the News
I cannot say this loud enough! There is no positive gain (‘cept the Sports section and the crossword – but that’s me / or if there is a benefit to your job/work). We all know that everything the news writers and the T.V. News Reporter does is put in a negative light, all the news that’s fit to print is rarely positive and almost always pushes the negative-envelope. Same goes for watching the news on T.V. STOP!
Fill that half hour with some reading – positive reading!
Sixty quality minutes added to you day. Wow, so easy! Now think about this: 1 hour a day – 7 hours a week – That translates into over 15 days of quality learning and positive power added to your life – amazing how that stuff adds up.
So that is all easy enough isn’t it? C’mon You know it is! Creating your new Ya-ttitude is all about being easy – things that should come natural and WILL come natural!
If you want some direction as to what you should be reading please drop me a note. I will be more than happy to give you some pointers. I hope to have up a section here shortly on the books I recommend and the books I am reading and the books we should all read!
Benny!
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Ya-ttitude: Give and Take
April 2, 2008
D0 you have those days when you just read something and it makes you go – Ohhhhhh!
Well today was definitely one of those days. I was reading some of the blogs that are on my “feedburner” and ran across a blog called In Worship and on it was a Post called “Are you a Consumer.” I want to make sure that credit is given where credit is due, so I believe this blog pointed back to this web page. This being fair and nice to each other thing can be time consuming and tedious and a real bit of work, but it’s what we are supposed to be all about – isn’t it? Well with all of the official business out of the way – and a special thanks to Brett and Joshua for being my inspiration today.
Let’s talk about Production vs. Consumption –
Ya-ttitude Style!
The “thought-inducing” quote was simple – by Albert Hsu.
“The opposite of consumption is production. It takes far more time and energy to create something than to consume something. It takes a novelist a year to write a book that someone can read in a few days… [Often] our only recreational activities are actions of consumption.”
Now that statement taken at face value might just be a “pat on the back” for Mr. Hsu and the amount of time it takes to write is book(s) and the amount of time he believes it takes to read them. Or maybe he was trying to create that new Buzz word that is all the rage – Prosumer – the combination of Producer and Consumer – but then again – depending on the person using it and the article you read – sometimes it means Professional and Consumer and that would just throw that whole idea out the window – so damn him – what was he trying to tell us?
Prosumer – the combination of a producer and consumer – shouldn’t that be what we are all about? Well we all have to consume to live – and we all have to produce to live – so be we all prosumers? The real big question here is what are we consuming and what are we producing. I have read the phrase “crap in – crap out” a few times over the last day and a half, as I thought about how to write this and what I wanted this to be written about. And I have decided that in all its simplicity – it is quite the statement.
The Golden Rule notwithstanding – there is some definite thought-inducing magic in that simple quote (both perhaps).
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”– A definite Prosumerish statement.
Think about it - if you consume all good things - shouldn’t you be more than able to produce “good things.”
Production: In the simplest of terms we were “produced” and given life.
How we consume our lives and how we allow our lives to be consumed is much deeper a statement.
What we consume during our lives and what we allow ourselves to consume is a much more important statement.
Are our lives consumed with positive thoughts, creating positive results making a positive world?
Are we consumed by negative thoughts, always dwelling on the negative, spewing negative ideas and being the downer who needs the over-abundance of cheap hooch to temporarily delay the inevitable?
Remember – Negative begets negative – do not be negative – stay away from the negative words, thoughts and people. Give those negative vibes a positive spin, make sure you surround yourself with positives, as much as you possibly can. (Hey – I live in the real world too – I know that it is possible – give it a try and see for yourself)
That may be the difference between the products that are the result of our consumption.
Is what is left over after our lives are consumed pure waste material – or is there something special there – something that will live on.
Have you allowed you life to be consumed by a plan, an aim or a goal to leave a mark on society; a bright, cheery and positive mark?
Have you gone out of your way to make a difference, lend a helping hand, volunteer or spread a positive outlook.
Have you consumed positive energy and given back positive energy. Do you surround yourself with all the good things that life has to offer and in turn produce within yourself the greatest gift you can give back – a fantastic relative, friend, associate and human being.
Remember if you are consuming more from society then you are giving back – there will be a shortage, so be sure to spread the wealth! Give back as much – Give back more than you consume – It is the one thing that opens the door (no KEY needed) to your success – to your future – to your BRIGHT and SUCCESFUL Future!
BTW: This can be as simple as saying “Bless You” when someone sneezes or “Thank You” when someone holds the door for you. It does not have to be grandiose – it has to be genuine. It starts with the right Ya-ttitude – a Positive Ya-ttitude.
And then grows and develops into a YA-TTITUDE!
Interesting concept… Indeed
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Ya-ttitude: Mail Call
March 27, 2008
I recently received this comment in regards to the Procrasti-NATION posts.
I understand where you are coming from. Yet I believe procrastination whether it’s a virtue or a vice is totally dependent on the context. In many cases, we do not like to do something and push it for later, for reasons that we understand or we don’t, somehow there would be something that holds us back…its at times like these, to go against our normal pressure to act and resolve, that I advise that we stop and ponder. Indeed, procrastination is our intuitive mechanism asking for time…and I think it’s many times wiser to listen to it.
The western concept of action and indeed mindless action and speed and goals and targets and such has created a society where time has lost its beauty and man is just a small cog in a mindless machine processing life in quantity rather than quality. So whilst, its important to do what you should and must do, its important to heed to your intuition and that small voice which asks for a delay…not listening to it may get you a small tick on your to do list, but you will never know what is lost and what could have happened had you waited.
Finally, procrastination would have saved billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives if Bush had procrastinated… hundreds of lives would have been saved had those cops not shot first and looked later in tense situations…
This crazy need for speed and to get things done has its rewards but also has its costs, which we don’t or do not want to calculate…procrastination would indeed help the world to consider life more peacefully and holistically.
Harish
My first reaction was that this was more a “poking fun” email at the whole Procrastination theory. But boy was I wrong. This is a serious email, from a serious member of the Card-Carrying Cartel of Procrasti-NATION. This is a big one boys and girls. I am going to have at it, and then I want to read what you have to say about it as well!
Vice or virtue; totally dependent on context:
Imagine that – vices could be shrugged off based on context – too cool. Better not tell my wife though. Procrastination is what it is – putting off till a later time what you should be doing now; but for purposes of this email – let me define procrastination…
pro?cras?ti?nate ?
? (pr
-kr
s
t
-n
t
, pr-)
To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.
Still say – please do not tell my wife – because if I can get away with carelessness or laziness and pass it off as a virtue – man-oh-man would my life become a waste! But a virtuous waste!
So in what context can we say that being lazy or careless becomes a virtue? I am still thinking…
Push it off till later: Sometimes we know why – Sometimes we don’t:
Well at least we are staying cognizant. I know that many people argue the point that “everything that happens does not have to have a reason.” But this is really pushing the point. I think we are confusing instinct, or gut feelings maybe even, dare I say, intuition with procrastination. There is a huge difference. Stopping to think over a situation is not a crime, nor is it procrastination. Pushing that situation off to another time, because we just do not feel like doing it – that is procrastination. I agree, we need to listen to those inner voices and feelings. As we grow more and more experienced those voices and feeling become better and better at warning us about things to think twice about. Is that procrastination by decision – I think not!
Mindless actions of Western Culture/ Lost Beauty / Small Cogs and what we may have missed out on:
There is definitely a lot to ponder there; so one step at a time. One of the first traits of a successful person – and that does not matter how you decide to define your own success – is to define your goals and give them targeted dates. Whether you are aspiring to be a Doctor or working on your tan at the beach – both as a set goal and time table if you are going to be successful at it. Staying out to long in the sun and you get burned – so that mindlessness that you went with – as opposed to creating a plan of action and a set time table – well it did not work well did it now?
I wonder why anyone would think about not watching a great sunset or your children growing up. If you successfully plan out your days, weeks and life – you miss nothing. Try a Basic plan like creating a three-part day is a great place to start. 8hrs of work, 8 hrs of sleep and 8 hrs to enjoy life – however you see fit – great place to start. I work hard, I have plans and goals and aims, I try my hardest to not put anything off (I mean we are all human) but I do not allow the beauty in my life to be lost. Baseball games with the boys (even Wrestlemania this weekend – In Orland0 – wonder if that can be construed as a waste of time – But it is my time with the kids – so beauty gained – not lost) college-searching with my daughter and sunsets at the pool with my wife – all great things to do, and they even are part of my plan. I read great books at lunch and enjoy a great cup of coffee and some Florida sunshine – and still get my work done. One of the great ways to accomplish this is to try to do that ONE item on you to-do list that you really do not want to do as your first item of the day – every day. Try if for one month – and watch how easily it became habit and now is the way you start your day. Once the crap is out of the way – every day is a grand day!
You’re a small cog – when you think small. Think Big, plan big, work big and you will be the engine that runs it all, not just a jammed gear in the workings.
I wonder - if I waited and missed out – would I know? Just as easy an arguable point as waiting to find out what it was I missed out on. Odds are I missed out on an opportunity that I cannot get back. And if you acted and made a mistake – so what – you learned, you got up, brushed yourself of and went back to work, smarter for the event. It is a rare occasion that greater things happen from waiting – success does not wait for anyone – it has its own fast-acting time table – catch it before it passes you by!
Billions of dollars and thousands of lives – shoot first, ask questions later!
I really am not going to bring my political stance or anyone else’s into this argument – not fair and not going to get us anywhere. Hind sight is a wonderful tool. It allows all the procrastinators to sit on there middle of the fence and point at all those on either side screaming “I told you so!” How many lives would have been lost if we did not invade? I do not know – would history have gone in another direction – would Iraq have acquired weapons powerful enough to do some real Mid-East damage? Would he have lit the match that started a war in the Middle East without America’s involvement? I do not know and neither do you – and those great experts. This I can say – we have the best system of Government in the World, and the people doing what they do best did what they thought was best, we put them there to do it and they did. I am not going to go any further on the political front. But – check history for wars and battles started because of the inability to make a clear cut decision and those that never happened because one was made!
Cops that shot first – another touchy subject. I have quite a few friends who are police. I wonder if I received a phone call from one of their wives or kids telling me to come to their funeral because he did not shoot first – how I would feel. We live in a tough world. I cannot count how many fewer people would be dead or how many more would be if you asked first vs. shot first – and the real tough part there – is neither can anyone else.
You can not calculate the many things in life – but what you can be sure of – there is no advantage to waiting till tomorrow to do something that you could have gotten finished today – easy - to paraphrase on your context: You waste time - you let the beauty pass YOU by - because you have to do it tomorrow - when you could have been enjoying your day!
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Ya-ttitude: Battle Lines are Drawn
March 20, 2008
Procrasti-NATION has held a stronghold over the United Attributes of Initiative for quite a long time; millennia perhaps. But with success on the line; your very future at risk, and the dreams and desires we all hold close to our heart being threatened, those Attributes have taken hold and are making a major push to the enemy line.
Procrasti-NATION, a much larger land mass than any of those areas of individual enterprise is a scary foe; except when each of the 25 separate Attributes come together and form a more perfect union.
The United Attributes of Initiative; A collective of the greatest personality traits and skills joining forces for the common good. A skill-set that has no match except the Omni-present - Procrasti-NATION.
Ladies and gentleman in this corner weighing in at just over two percent of the current population: Personal Initiative!
And in this corner - where 98 percent of the population is affected, where the wheels of business come to a grinding halt, an area of blank stares and nothingness, the place where dreams go to die and plans never happen and where the woes of the world are over looked for the joys of, of, nothing… Procrasti-NATION!
Before the details of the invasion are brought forth in the entire magnificent splendor that only Walt Disney could have dreamed, let me detail for you the members of the United Attributes of Initiative:
- Definite Aims and Goals
- Motivation and emotional Desire to achieving the goal
- A Master Mind/Think Tank of like and complimentary minds
- Self Reliance
- Dependability
- Thoroughness over Speed
- Discipline
- Persistence
- Follow Through
- Applied Faith
- Positive Mental Attitude
- Compassion
- Patience
- The Will to Win
- Imagination/Creativity
- Quick and Definite Decision Making
- Willingness to go Extra Mile and then some
- Enthusiastic Persona/Aura
- Detail Orient
- Equal abilities to dish out as well as take
- Familiarity with Motivation techniques
- Ability to Focus
- Responsibility
- Accountability
- Willingness to share blame and glory
There is no doubt in my mind that all of you are familiar with a great deal of these attributes. I am sure that all of you have some, a few, or most of these attributes. Hey - it may even be one of those “Hmmm” moments where you sit back and say - “Damn - I have that skill!” But having only one or some of these attributes will only serve you as a foundation to the creation of your most powerful ally and army - the one that takes down Procrasti-Nation!
The key to winning this war, this take over, this “future is so bright, I have to wear shades“, outlook is creating that plan that will carry through to working your definite aims and goals to your success (yes - this is where it all began a few posts ago when we discussed 4-Step Plan to Success). The purpose of the way this is written is to show you that you cannot achieve it all over night.
You need the early writings to develop a set of skills and goals to take you through each of the next steps. So in my opinion it is a good time to go over the initial posts from the first to this current; Jot down some of the Hmmm’s and Aha’s and email me with questions, comments, or as always feel free to post below.
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Awarded by Amy to Ya-ttitude
