Motivation Information |
|
How to Use the Power of Words to Your Benefit
Someone I know maintains that "motivational words are great coming from philosophers, but that's because they're not in the real world." The power of words can be an incredible aid to helping us remain motivated and focused. Abraham Lincoln certainly was in the "real world". So was Henry Ford. Napoleon Hill, Anthony Robbins, John Kehoe, and so the list goes on. For most of us, the words we read have little impact on us and our lives, and especially on the setting of our goals. Here I hope to offer another way to look at words, and hopefully give the value of what words can mean with our goals and our lives. The enormous amount of motivational material available - books, articles, motivational quotes - can (and does) help us to develop a positive attitude. But this does not occur by reading them as a novel or short story, that is, reading it once, and then never returning to the material. When we use the concept known as spaced repetition, which is the reading of material repeatedly, but with breaks in between, words, and in particular motivational words become a powerful aid. This has an exceptional effect on our subconscious mind (and also works well with learning new material). How much effort is there in that? To use an example, consider the following motivational quote: "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it." Let's consider how these words can help us to develop a positive attitude, and as result make us more content. "If you don't like something, change it." Example, are you in a job that absolutely drains you mentally, and emotionally? Have you seriously looked at changing jobs? And here the key word is "seriously". Do we really investigate all our options? Do we consider dropping in salary (in the short term), but have work that stimulates us? Do we make a concerted effort to look for other positions? Now for the second part. "If you can't change it, change the way you think about it." Do we have any control over the petrol price? Do we have any control over getting a flat tyre? There is no way in the world we can change these occurrences by moaning about them. Too often we throw up our hands in frustration, or drop our head in desperation. And what is the value of that? Does it rectify the problem? Absolutely not! So why do we allow outside influences to affect us detrimentally? Accept that which you have no control over, and your attitude will soar proportionately. In practice, using spaced repetition, committing these words to memory, when the occasion arises, we almost automatically retrieve these words and the whole situation looks entirely different. This is where the value of words comes into its own. A while ago, while pulling away from a traffic light, I was too slow for the driver behind me. He hooted and showed me to move. My first reaction was to become annoyed, and I was "talking" to him - in no uncertain terms. Then I asked myself what effect does that have on the situation? And realizing this I relaxed I continued on my journey. By the time I reached my destination, I had all but forgotten the incident. Words can be of real value to us, if we use them correctly. Give it a try, and see the effect it has on your attitude, and on you as a person. As Rudyard Kipling said: "Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind." Make it your goal to... Find a motivational quote and write this down. Give it a read at least twice a day - you'll be surprised at the results. About the Author
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Motivation By Daily Applause One of our most powerful psychological needs is the craving to be appreciated by our fellow humans. Often the quickest way to receive the applause we desire is to keep working hard without it. Those who work hard on their own in private usually end up receiving applause in public. Just the thought of this future applause can provide powerful motivation. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone - Before Its Too Late Think about what you're doing each day and ask yourself - "Is what I'm doing now getting me to where I want to get to?" If the answer is "No" then do something different. Get out of your comfort zone and change your habits. One Last Month to Make it Count! Can you believe it, summer is almost over. Did you get to accomplish everything you planned? Did life sneak up on you, such as unexpected bills, a loss of a job or did your situation change? Well, the busiest 2 months of summer are over, with literally weeks until school starts up again. There's a lot of juggling finances as you finish off your summer trips, buy school clothes and rush to the store to buy up all the school supplies you can get your hands on. For the kids the hustle and bustle has just begun, but for the single parent this is just a normal month. How often do we have a busy month like this and we don't think twice about it. It's a regular routine for us, we work, we buy, and we're broke. There's no "ifs", "ands" or "buts" about it. We work hard, play less and fall into an eternal cycle of Single Parenting. Half the time we don't know which end is up, just as long as those kids are fed, the bills are paid and we can get to work on time. You Can! "There are only two ways of bringing brightness into your world; either change your attitude or open the closed doors of your brain" The True Cost Of A Lack of Motivation And what a lack of motivation means.. Nothing Ever Stays The Same Nothing ever stays the same. On the one hand we despise change yet on the other we don't want to stagnate and become boring. Yet our habits keep us locked into a course of action day after day, year after year. The way we think, the way we behave, the way we experience things, the way we react to incidents, all are dominated by our habits. They are so strong that most of do not even know what they are. Whatever our habits are they keep us fixed in a particular perspective or behaviour. They stop us reaching our potential. Visualization Visualisation plays a very important role with the mind and body relationship. Visualisation and Imagination are quite similiar. Visualisation is the picturing power of your mind. Your mind is like a camera constantly taking pictures of things around you. You are the star of your show. There is no one to give orders to your mind. The images you hold in your mind will determine the kind of life you will lead. When you first start to work with visualisation it is normally the imagination that comes to play. Visualisation takes time and practise to acquire. When working with visualisation it is important that one practises regularly. Try to practise at the same time each day, by doing that it becomes a habit. A Reality Practice Suggested practice to gain freedom from self-limitation. Nine Reasons To Embrace Failure I've always heard that "public speaking" is the number one most common fear. According to a recent survey I conducted in my e-newsletter, however, this is not the case. Overwhelmingly my readership chose "failure." Finding Yourself: Finding Passion Series - 1 of 3 We have been told that the things we don't like in our children are the same things we don't like in ourselves. We are told that we project our own flaws and issues onto our perceived enemies in an attempt to work them out within ourselves. We stereotype people according to who they hang out with. Birds of a feather flock together. We're attracted to people like ourselves, with the same flaws. Fear of Failure The fear of failure is more deadly than failure itself. The fear of failure paints so many imaginary scenarios which petrifies you and renders you immobile. Most folks have buried their dreams because of the fear of failure, which graduates into the fear of stepping out. Dont Wait For All of Lifes Traffic Lights to Turn Green Can you imagine getting into your motor vehicle, reversing out of your driveway, selecting a forward gear then just sitting there waiting for every traffic light between your home and your destination to turn green?" The Power I had a friend ask me a question not to long ago that really led me to do some thinking. "How do you manage to stay so positive all the time?" You never seem to have "bad" days she said. Motivation: The Power of Action, Part 1 I've heard it said that 85% of success is showing up. While that's true, in the words of radio commentator Paul Harvey, here's the rest of the story. Personal Safety: How To Avoid Accidents And Live A Safe, Longer & Happy Life Have you ever had an accident? The Power Of Purpose The manifestations of motive Day Dream Believer I am sure you, just like the rest of us, experienced all sorts of day dreams when you were younger. Who amongst us did not find themselves, at one time or another, in the precarious position of being blissfully lost in day dream when one of our teachers called on us in class? You know how that story went. The Art of Wastebasketry Are your filing cabinets stuffed so full that it's difficult to retrieve and file papers? If you're like 80% of the people in the audiences to whom I speak, your answer is "Yes." "Are there things in your filing cabinet you could probably throw out?" Most once again answer "Yes." So what's the problem? What Is The Value In Wanting To Accomplish Something? When I listen to people tell me about some of the things they want to do, I pause for two reasons. One is the fact that I'm listening and watching them to see if they are serious within themselves. Secondly, if it's something they really believe that they can accomplish. The Best Day Of My Life Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! |
home | site map |
© 2005 |