Wednesday 26 September 2007

Area of focus

Reading a book by Martin Seligman called "Learned Optimism."

In it he says that women are twice as likely than men to suffer from depression.

Men are three to four times as likely to be alcoholics.

Adversities happen to us all.

He observes that women tend to "ruminate" about problems past and present. They tend to mull them over and dwell on them. They tend to be pessimistic when thinking about them.

Men tend to distract themselves with alcohol or with activity.

He says and demonstrates that the better way is to develop an optimistic explanatory style.

That is A=Adversity B=Beliefs C=Consequences.

When one changes, challenges, one's beliefs about the causes of one's adversities, one changes the emotional and practical consequences.

The idea is to ascribe "Temporary, Limited, External" to the bad events and "Permanent, Pervasive, Personal" TO THE GOOD EVENTS. Not the other way around.

Read the comments after the Hellen Keller Post.

Follow the Profiles to their Blogs.

You will find two optimistic people, who obviously have had their adversities at some stage, who focus on the upbeat side of life.

Zig Ziglar said you can go to the best city in the world and find some of the worst people in the world.

Or you can go to the worst city in the world and find some of the best people this world has ever known.

The choice, the focus, is of my own making.

Saturday 15 September 2007

Helen Keller

"The world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it." - Helen Keller (Who was blind and deaf and went on, with the right help, to inspire people enormously)

There is power in the words we use.

The power we ascribe to them.

I find Helen Keller inspirational because of what she overcame.

Would she have had the impact on our world without those obstacles to rise above?

No.

In adversity, is greatness allowed to be.

Life is full of great times and worthy challenges.

As it is full of lessons to be learnt and skills developed.

I don't have to lose my vision to see them. Or lose my hearing to listen to them.

Rather, I just need to turn my face towards the progressive ideas that allow me to see and hear the possibilities.

Be easy on myself.

I am reminded of the story of the farmer who said:

"It's easy for that politician to plow my field, when he is two thousand miles away from it, and his plow is a pen!"

It's in the execution that the challenges lie; and the glory lies.

Someone else said:

"It's not what you GET in pursuit of your goals, it's what you BECOME."

Is it the motto of the Special Olympics:

"Let me win. But if I can't win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Did I hear somewhere about the Olympics (paraphrased):

"Ask not for victory,
Ask for courage.
For when you go on in a struggle,
You bring honour to yourself.
Even more,
You bring honour to us all."


It is better for me to acknowledge that I have assets or traits that I wish to build up - rather than starting again.

To acknowledge that I wont be perfect in the execution. That some days I just wont make it.

That some days I will.

Doesn't even have to be most days.

That relaxation, laughter, fun are essential ingredients.

I'm at the face of the gold seam digging. It HAS to be my decision how I mine it and the adjustments I make.

I might even hit some poo.

I'll just put it behind me and keep digging - a good reason not to step back too far.....

I'm looking for the gold. I don't have to take anything with me I don't want to take.



I cannot know how close I am, only that I control whether my journey continues - no-one else.

Really it doesn't matter how close I am - only that I am enjoying the journey.

Thursday 13 September 2007

Wayne Dyer - I'll see it when I believe it.

Take the best and leave the rest!

Thoughts are things.

What you talk about, think about, expands to fill your universe.

Your physical presence is about 1% of YOU - it's your 'form' or physical being.

Your thoughts and desires are 99% of YOU. Thoughts and desires are ageless.

Keep the young person resident in your form.

My take out: -

My spirit is not the flower in the bell jar, as I thought it was - it is an energy or presence that surrounds me and infiltrates my world.

I can say what form it has and how it affects me and those around me.

If a person is contributing to that process then they are close.

Four types of person I can encounter: -

A) Hyper-Progressive

B) Progressive

C) Non-Progressive

D) Anti-Progressive

I choose to be a B. I aspire to be an A.

I choose to spend my time with A's and B's.

C's and D's will await their awakening.......

Wednesday 12 September 2007

Where to from here?

I have had a lot of tools that I have used to varying degrees over the years.

Zig Ziglar and his tapes "How to Stay Motivated" and book "See You At The Top" were very helpful.

Back listening to and reading those - feel better already.

Yoga helped me a lot.

Would like to get into that again.

It really helps to have an awareness that things can get better.

Good to have a game plan.

What does it take to get started?

Of those three Awareness, Game Plan, Starting, which is critical - or are they ALL important?

Game plan needs fleshing out, though....

Tuesday 11 September 2007

From the ashes, the phoenix....

The chance to start again.

It has been said each new day is the chance for a new beginning.

The way to build one's assertiveness is not easy.

The way to build assertiveness and a healthy self image is through an intentional program done regularly.

I can do it through my own choice - no-one can do it FOR me.

I have embarked on a program of positive input (tapes and books) and started a journal to record my progress and insights.

I will look after myself.

"May your God bless you and keep you and make her face to shine upon you and give you peace."

Or, as is far more likely, "may you continue to make the life for yourself, that you work towards."

I choose to live and grow - I trust your journey is fruitful.