Get Set For A New Year!

31st December, 2013-Time to take stock and check what things were achieved and short-comings faced during the course of the last 365 days.

Why and how were they achieved? The targets you failed to hit,examine them. What happened? For most people however,they started the year running but without a finish line so there will be difficulty measuring progress or failure. Imagine a football match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC played on a pitch without goal posts. Just imagine it. Frustrating right? When you set out without well-defined, clear-cut goals, frustration is all you will reap.

What plans do you have or have you made for 2014? I am not talking about the feebly declared so-called resolutions. I am speaking about well set GOALS! I guess most people do not even know how to start. here is how...

First and foremost,acknowledge God for keeping you and bringing you to another starting point. Go into yourself and ask self empowering questions like what do i truly want? Who or what do i want to be in the next so,so years? etc
Write them down and also write down the plans you will follow to achieve them,and place it where you will always see it.

NB: If you do not write them down,you will be embarking on an adventure in futility, they will be mere wishes and fantasies that are common to everyone. Go one step further. Set your goals and be committed to ensuring they are achieved.
2014 is right before you...Go into it and be FULFILLED!
Have a Joy Filled New Year!

Mentally Strong People: The 13 Things They Avoid

When ever you come across someone that is mentally strong, you are sure to see that they possess the qualities listed below. Go through it and see if you fall into this group of people. 

1.    Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves. You don’t see mentally strong people feeling sorry for their circumstances or dwelling on the way they’ve been mistreated. They have learned to take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, and they have an inherent understanding of the fact that frequently life is not fair. They are able to emerge from trying circumstances with self-awareness and gratitude for the lessons learned. When a situation turns out badly, they respond with phrases such as “Oh, well.” Or perhaps simply, “Next!”

2. Give Away Their Power. Mentally strong people avoid giving others the power to make them feel inferior or bad. They understand they are in control of their actions and emotions. They know their strength is in their ability to manage the way they respond.

3.    Shy Away from Change. Mentally strong people embrace change and they welcome challenge. Their biggest “fear,” if they have one, is not of the unknown, but of becoming complacent and stagnant. An environment of change and even uncertainty can energize a mentally strong person and bring out their best.

4. Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control. Mentally strong people don’t complain (much) about bad traffic, lost luggage, or especially about other people, as they recognize that all of these factors are generally beyond their control. In a bad situation, they recognize that the one thing they can always control is their own response and attitude, and they use these attributes well.

5. Worry About Pleasing Others. Know any people pleasers? Or, conversely, people who go out of their way to dis-please others as a way of reinforcing an image of strength? Neither position is a good one. A mentally strong person strives to be kind and fair and to please others where appropriate, but is unafraid to speak up. They are able to withstand the possibility that someone will get upset and will navigate the situation, wherever possible, with grace. It takes much practice to hone mental strength

6. Fear Taking Calculated Risks. A mentally strong person is willing to take calculated risks. This is a different thing entirely than jumping headlong into foolish risks. But with mental strength, an individual can weigh the risks and benefits thoroughly, and will fully assess the potential downsides and even the worst-case scenarios before they take action.

7. Dwell on the Past. There is strength in acknowledging the past and especially in acknowledging the things learned from past experiences—but a mentally strong person is able to avoid miring their mental energy in past disappointments or in fantasies of the “glory days” gone by. They invest the majority of their energy in creating an optimal present and future.

8. Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over. We all know the definition of insanity, right? It’s when we take the same actions again and again while hoping for a different and better outcome than we’ve gotten before. A mentally strong person accepts full responsibility for past behavior and is willing to learn from mistakes. Research shows that the ability to be self-reflective in an accurate and productive way is one of the greatest strengths of spectacularly successful executives and entrepreneurs.

9. Resent Other People’s Success. It takes strength of character to feel genuine joy and excitement for other people’s success. Mentally strong people have this ability. They don’t become jealous or resentful when others succeed (although they may take close notes on what the individual did well). They are willing to work hard for their own chances at success, without relying on shortcuts.

10. Give Up After Failure. Every failure is a chance to improve. Even the greatest entrepreneurs are willing to admit that their early efforts invariably brought many failures. Mentally strong people are willing to fail again and again, if necessary, as long as the learning experience from every “failure” can bring them closer to their ultimate goals.

11. Fear Alone Time. Mentally strong people enjoy and even treasure the time they spend alone. They use their downtime to reflect, to plan, and to be productive. Most importantly, they don’t depend on others to shore up their happiness and moods. They can be happy with others, and they can also be happy alone.

12. Feel the World Owes Them Anything. Particularly in the current economy, executives and employees at every level are gaining the realization that the world does not owe them a salary, a benefits package and a comfortable life, regardless of their preparation and schooling. Mentally strong people enter the world prepared to work and succeed on their merits, at every stage of the game.

13. Expect Immediate Results. Whether it’s a workout plan, a nutritional regimen, or starting a business, mentally strong people are “in it for the long haul”. They know better than to expect immediate results. They apply their energy and time in measured doses and they celebrate each milestone and increment of success on the way. They have “staying power.” And they understand that genuine changes take time.

Do you have mental strength? Are there elements on this list you need more of? With thanks to Amy Morin, I would like to reinforce my own abilities further in each of these areas today. How about you?

Culled from Forbes.com

What Are You Grateful For?

Most times we are so overwhelmed by the challenges we are passing through on a daily basis that we forget to stop and think and see those things that we should be grateful for. It seems everyone is involved in the complaint/worry game and we all fail to realise that things are not that bad for us.

When we complain and worry about things not working out in our lives, we tend to lose sight of those things that are happening, things we should be grateful for. To discover all those things you should be grateful for, just sit back and take a look at how the year has gone and you will see all that has happened to you.

When you look back, you will surely see things to be grateful for. I am sure you are aware of the people that are no more. There people will give so much to be alive today but it is unfortunate that they are no more. Is anything worth more than the gift of life that God has granted us the grace to enjoy? If this is the only thing we have, I am sure we all have so much to praise the Almighty for.

I can't begin to share all that God has done for me throughout the year but I am ALWAYS grateful whenever I look back. If there is anything I will forever be grateful for, it is the fact that apart from being alive, God is making my life count. He has used me to transform a lot of lives through this medium and on so many other platforms.

If this is all he has done for me, I don't know why I shouldn't be grateful to Him. I have always dreamt of being an impact maker and as it is true for all dreamers, God made my dream to come true and a lot of people are better off just by coming in contact with me or by visiting this life-transforming website.

Though the dream for this platform is still LARGE, but where I am is still commendable and I am sure I have a witness there. Looking at your own life, do you have a reason to praise the Lord? Do you have the reason to be grateful? It is when we are grateful that we receive more of what we want.

Gratitude is a principle that has being in existence for years and it is one that works wonder. So if you have always being focusing on things that have not being working, NOW is the time to shift your focus and look inward. NOW is the time to start thinking of those things that you need to be grateful for.
Today is a gratitude day and you must have a lot of reasons to be GRATEFUL! Testimony time... :)

By A Colleague
Adebola Oni
www.naijamotivation.com

Create Your Daily Personal Growth And Development Schedule

There are six personal growth disciplines you must develop if you want to achieve all that is possible for you. You can learn these high value disciplines through practice and repetition until they become automatic.

1.  Goal Setting

Every morning, take three to five minutes to write out your top goals in the present tense. Get a spiral notebook for this purpose. By writing out your ten goals at the beginning of each day, you will program them deep into your subconscious mind.
Goal setting will activate your mental powers. It will stimulate your mind and make you more alert. Throughout the day, you will see opportunities and possibilities to move more rapidly toward your goals.

2.  Planning and Organizing

Take a few minutes, preferably the night before, to plan out every activity of the coming day. Always work from a list. Always think on paper. This is one of the most powerful and important disciplines of all for high performance. When you plan out your day on paper you can begin to visualize your high value tasks and make sure you complete them throughout the day.

3.  Concentration on your High Value Activities

Your ability to work single-mindedly on your most important task will contribute as much to your success as any other discipline you can develop.

4.  Exercise and Proper Nutrition

Your health is more important than anything else. By disciplining yourself to exercise regularly and to eat carefully, you will promote the highest possible levels of health and fitness throughout your life.

5.  Learning and Growth

Your mind is like a muscle. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Continuous learning and personal growth is the minimum requirement for success in any field.

6.  Time for Important People in Your Life

Relationships are everything. Be sure that in climbing the ladder of success, you do not find it leaning against the wrong building. Build time for your relationships into every day, no matter how busy you get.

Action Exercise

These six personal growth disciplines will ensure that you perform at the highest level and get the greatest satisfaction and results from everything you do. Study these seven personal growth disciplines and then make a plan for how you can incorporate each of them into your daily life.

From My Mentor,
Brian Tracy

How You Treat People Means A Lot

MARRIAGE TIPS:
LETS TAKE A BREAK AND READ THIS STORY AND DRAW OUT SOME HELPFUL ANALYSIS...for ourselves

The mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is one of the most interesting relationships in marriage and family life. These two people can be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. For the daughter-in-law, it could be like gaining a second mother or it could be entering a relationship filled with tension and jealousy.

This story is a MUST read for every woman who has a son and hope for him to get married someday, and for the ladies hoping to get married too someday.

REMEMBER, EVERY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS ONCE A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her
mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law' s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly. Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's > poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law' s bad
temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, 'Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.' Li-Li said, 'Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do. 'Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, 'You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause
people to become suspicious.

Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. 'Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.' Li-Li was so happy. She
thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law' s attitude towards Li-Li changed, and
she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in- law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening. One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said,' Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law.

She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the
poison I gave her.'

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. 'Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude towards her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.'

HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how they will treat you? There is a wise Chinese saying: 'the person who loves others will also be loved in return. 'God might be trying to work in another person's life through 

Taken from www.talkwithcera.com