TIPS ON DISCOVERING YOUR DREAM...#3

Here is the final stage. And hope my write was useful.
Food for thought…
Simplify: one purpose. Once you've defined your dream, focus on it completely. That means you need to put any other goals on the backburner for now, and have only one purpose in your life. Later, you can focus on other goals, but if you have multiple goals, you will become distracted and lose purpose. Focus so that you are keeping your focus on that one thing.

Use a mantra. A great way to keep you focused is to use Guy Kawasaki's idea of creating a mantra instead of a mission statement. Stew your goal down to a few words. Guys' mantra: empower entrepreneurs. What's yours? Once you've defined your mantra, print it out, post it up, and say it several times a day.
Set aside time each day. You will not go anywhere if you don't devote time to your dream. Set aside an hour (or at least 30 minutes) each day for working towards your dream. If you can do more, great, but one step at a time is all it takes. Set aside time either in the morning, or in the evening, or some time when you know you will do it every day. Make it a habit, and you will succeed.

Pretend you can't fail. Imagine that you cannot fail, that you may slip up and fall, but that you will get up and learn from that fall. Take away all fear of risk and loss, and believe in your success. Now act as if you cannot fail. And by acting so, you will make it happen.
Live as you want to be remembered. How do you want to be remembered when you die? This is a common method for deciding how to live your life. If you want to be remembered for realizing your dream, then don't start on it when it's too late. Start on it now. Live your life so that your dream actually comes true.

TIPS ON DISCOVERING YOUR DREAM...# 2

Here is a continuation. please read through i am very sure by the end of this post you would have discovered your dream and how to achieve them dreams.

Food for thought...

What environment do you enjoy working in? An office, a college, a classroom, a construction site, the ocean, the forest? Where you work is also an important factor in your dream job.
List your top 5 passions. Now that you've given various factors some thought, and tried some online tools, make a short list of your top 5 passions. If you don't have 5, list as many as you have. Then compare your top 5 passions, and rank them from top to bottom. This will be the starting point your guide to making your dream a reality.
How can you turn your passions into your work? Of the top 2-3 passions on your short list, can any of them be turned into your life's work? What professions use those passions as a mainstay of their work? How would you get into those professions, and do you think you would love what you do if you did them?

Create a clear vision. Clarity of vision is the key to achieving your dream once you've discovered it. Take some time to think about exactly what your dream is, what your dream job would be, how you see yourself doing it, where you are, what you're surrounded by, who you're working with, what tools you're using, the benefits to you and others. Write it down, and try to make it as clear as possible. You should be able to visualize this dream in your head. The more real it seems in your mind, the more likely it is that it will become reality.
Create a roadmap. Once you've clearly pictured your destination, what's left is creating a map for getting to that destination. Try backwards planning: what's the last step you'd have to do before attaining your goal? What would the last step be before that step? Keep going backwards until you get to the first step. Then focus all your efforts on that first step.

Brainstorm. Sometimes there are more than one road to get to a destination. Brainstorm a bunch of ideas for getting there, a bunch of actions you can take to move yourself closer to your destination. Then put them together into your roadmap. Even if you don't have a complete roadmap, having a clearly defined destination, and taking the first step, are enough to get you started.
Do research. Learn as much as you can about your dream. Check out some books from the library, do some web surfing, talk to others who are knowledgeable. Become an expert on the topic.

How are others doing it? Find others who are living your dream. Read about them, write to them, meet with them. Find out what steps they took to get there, what's required, how they did it. Then use that information for your roadmap.
Practice, practice. While you're taking your steps to realizing your dream, practice your passion as much as possible. Practice, of course, makes perfect ... and you want to be as good at what you want to do as humanly possible. This isn't an easy step, but it's worth it.

Get inspired. Find others who are trying to achieve the same dream, see what obstacles they've face and how they've overcome them. Put up photos from magazines to inspire you. Read motivational quotes. If you're inspired, you will have the energy needed to get there.
Get motivated. Along those lines, find motivation to keep you on your path. Motivation and focus are the keys to achieving any goal. What are your motivations? Making a public commitment, setting up rewards, inspiring yourself, tracking your progress and finding a partner are great ways to motivate yourself.

TIPS ON DISCOVERING YOUR DREAM...# 1

One of the most important rules of happiness in life is to do what you love. But discovering that dream job and what you are meant to do in life isn't always so easy.But what do you do if you don't know what you want to do? If you don't know what your dream is? This is a common problem, and many people wander through much of their life without discovering their passion, and go from job to job, unfulfilled and miserable.If that's you, don't give up. What follows is a list of suggestions that will help you discover your dream, and start on the road to living that dream. They're things that have worked for me and many others I've studied, talked to, interviewed and admired. If you spend time thinking about your dreams, you are taking the first step towards making them a reality.

Food for thought….
What are your hobbies? -- it means anything you do with your spare time. That could be books, reading about history, programming Linux utilities, writing on your blog, writing poetry, cooking, whatever. As it's clear that this is how you like to spend your time, and that you're willing to do these things without pay, Give each of your hobbies some thought, and think about whether they're things you love to do, and that you'd love to do for a living.

What are your talents? It's been said that each of us have at least one gift we've been given, and that the true purpose of our lives is discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world. There is much truth in that statement, and an important part of this process is discovering your gift. What are you good at? What talents do you have? What have you shown an aptitude for in your current and previous jobs, in school, in your personal life? Anything goes here.

Who do you like to work with? A dream job includes not only what you want to do, but who you are doing it with. You should truly enjoy working with these people. In this step, you can name specific people you love working with, or types of people (creative types, programmers, entrepreneurs, blue collar, etc.). Use your ideas here to help you envision your dream job (more on that below).

What do you like to work with? The tools of the job are very important. If you love working with computers (even a specific type of computer), that's a clue to your dream job. If you love working with clay, or paper, or people, or clothes, that's a clue. If you like working with a hammer, or a piano, you're off to a great start in discovering your dream.

WHAT JUMPSTARTS YOUR DAY

Today I want to share with you one of the mostpowerful techniques that can jump-start your dayand give you all the positive energy you need.It's called The Identity Board.It is fun and it works! A lot of times we lackjust a little bit of courage, self-confidence ordetermination to pursue the goals that we reallywant.Our thoughts and behaviors are mainly determinedby our belief system. Our self-beliefs (how wesee ourselves) play an important role in how weinteract with other people and what self-image weproject for the others to see. The identity board allows you to strengthen yourpositive strains and transform your negativetraits of character into positive ones. Identity Board is a powerful motivational tool,because it combines all the benefits of two mainmotivational techniques - visualization andpositive affirmations.

EDISON: AN INSPIRING TRUE STORY

I have always been amazed by Edison, who had filed 400 patents between 1876 and 1884, at approximately a patent a week. Isn't he remarkable?
This is a true story which i came across from one of the Newsletters which was trying to explain about "things ahead of its time". It seems that Edison liked to demonstrate his phonograph by allowing people to speak into the machine and then playing the recording back for them. However, the technology was outside almost everyone's conceptual understanding. Up to that point in history, the only thing that could mimic the sound of one's voice was a ventriloquist, so people thought it had to be a trick. Clergymen came to pronounce it "the devil's work" and to discredit Edison.
But here's the really fun part. Edison used to charge people 25 cents to try to "fool the machine." A person who spoke Latin (a dead language) would speak Latin into it and, of course, it would speak Latin back to the person. People wondered how Edison was able to teach a machine to speak Latin. A person would speak Chinese into the machine and it would speak Chinese back to them. Again, people would wonder how the "Wizard of Menlo Park" taught the machine to speak Chinese.
People simply did not understand the concept of a recording.
This just goes into prove "what a genius, he is".
If you would like to read and know more about this genius do visit:http://www.edison.me.uk

A PERSPECTIVE ON EACH NEW DAY

How do you view each day as you crawl out of bed every morning? Do you look at it with an eagerness and anticipation or is it with some dread or even fear? I'll admit we all have days when rejoicing is one of the last things on our minds as we face a new day. However, this Scripture in Psalm 118:24 tells us we should rejoice and be glad in it. It doesn't say when you feel like it or when you have some eagerness about the day. There is no condition to it. It simply states,rejoice and be glad in it. So that would indicate all the time no matter what!

41 Lazy Habits that can mess you up

Laziness is the disease that all of us suffer from. Laziness is a lack of desire to do pretty much anything that benefits a human being in a positive manner. Laziness is the opposite of productivity.

Laziness is procrastination which is basically delaying doing things until they become absolutely necessary. Here are a short list of habits that you should avoid if you want to achieve self control and make your life worth living again.

1.Stop watching too much TV!
2.Limit Facebook
3.Forget about MySpace and 5 million other social networking sites
4.Stop wasting time on Digg and Reddit
5.Stop staying up late
6.Stop over eating
7.Eating late
8.Eating too early (Like 3AM!)
9.Skipping breakfast
10.Rushing your meals
11.Neglecting to brush teeth
12.Neglecting to floss
13.Using Google for everything!
14.Neglecting a good night’s rest
15.Eating fried food
16.Picking your nose
17.Farting and burping in public
18.Careless attitude
19.Getting to work late
20.Getting to class late
21.Sleeping at meetings and classrooms
22.Eating out everyday
23.Writing a blog once a month
24.Not taking shower daily
25.Not taking a crap regularly- Yea. Some people don’t even do this because they’re too damn lazy!
26.Not exercising
27.Leaving work until last minute
28.Browse the Internet aimlessly
29.Not taking shower regularly
30.Idling for long periods of time
31.Over eating
32.No exercise
33.Smoking
34.Eating fast food daily – Stop going to McDonald’s for breakfast/lunch and dinner. Watch Super Size Me to get an idea what it does to you in a matter of only few weeks!
35.Stop delegating - If you want a cup of water or the remote GO GET IT YOURSELF!
36.Stop driving and walk to short distances.
37.Stop finding shortcuts – Getting things done take time and effort. Taking shortcuts all the time is a lazy way out of doing hard work.
38.Don’t wait until the last minute in the morning before getting up and then have to rush to get ready for work or school.
39.Don’t leave anything until the last minute.
40.Not cleaning after yourself – There are so many people who use the bathroom but do not wash their hands after. Forget about #1, some people don’t even bother washing their hands after doing #2! Even worse than that, some people don’t even wash their arse when they take a dump. How disgusting can a person be if they don’t properly wash their arse or wipe properly?? This is sick and it bothers me.
41.Stop eating when not hungry!
I could go on but can’t think of anymore…I’m sure there are hundreds of other lazy habits that affects us negatively and create setbacks everyday.

13 MENTAL FITNESS EXERCISES TO KEEP YOU SHARP

IFound this great article on how to keep your brain shap. Below is a post of and link to the actual article.

1. Use Your Other Hand- Whenever basic tasks become second nature (requiring no concentration,) our brains fail to get any exercise. One way to give your brain a workout is to use your other hand for common tasks. If you’re right handed, try eating with your left hand. Brush your teeth with your other hand too. This might sound easy enough, but you’ll find yourself actually focusing on accomplishing these simple tasks. As a result, your mind gets a good workout.

2. Shop without a List- Sometimes, we make things a little too easy on ourselves. Shopping with a list of everything you need means you can mindlessly coast through the supermarket without lifting a mental muscle. Instead, why don’t you try hitting the store without that list in hand? At the very least, hide the list in a pocket and see how much of it you can remember.

3. Engage in Conversations Each Day- Between social networking and text messaging, does anyone actually have conversations anymore? It’s good to chat it up with friends because it causes you to focus on what others are saying and to instantly think of your response. This exercise works best when you get past meaningless conversation and into deep, insightful discussions.

4. Read New Books- If you usually read fiction, try reading a history book. If you usually read magazines, try picking up the business section of your newspaper. Reading new things expands your mind, giving you a great mental workout.

5. Exercise Your Body- Physical exercise doesn’t just make you big and strong; it also keeps your brain active. Studies show that regular exercise fights depression, reduces stress, and improves self-confidence. All of these things help your mind operate more efficiently.

6. Change Your Daily Routine- Remember what I said earlier about when things become second nature, your brain stops working? Keep your mind working by constantly shaking up your daily routine. Maybe you can take a different route to work. Or instead of coming home to relax every day after school, maybe you can join a club that meets weekly. Change it up!

7. Start a Project- Working on a project is good for a couple of reasons: a) It gives you a sense of purpose as you do something productive; b) More importantly, it forces you to focus on completing a large task over a long period of time. Whether you want to build a model car or write a book, a long-term project is essential for mental fitness.

8. Use Your Other Senses- The ultimate goal of mental fitness exercises is to stimulate all of your senses. There are several ways you can do this. For example, as you enjoy your meal, try identifying all of the ingredients as you chew. Or, try eating with your eyes closed without making a mess. If your senses are sharp, your mind will be too.

9. Expand Your Vocabulary- Learning new words doesn’t just make you sound smart in social settings, it keeps your mind fit as well. Try learning a new word every day.

10. Pay Attention to the Tiny Details- When you walk into a room, take notice of the little items that decorate the space. Likewise, when you meet someone, take note of their complete outfit down to the tiniest details. This constant attention to detail means your mind will always be working.

11. Ditch the Calculator- Again, stop making things so easy on yourself. Put your math skills to the test by ditching the calculator. Better yet, get rid of the pencil and paper too. Try solving complex math problems in your head with no help.

12. Play a Game- Who said video games rot your brain? Strategy based games, like Halo, can actually be highly effective at exercising your problem solving skills. Same thing goes for board games. Remember, mental fitness can be fun!

13. Try Multitasking- If you’ve seen the game show Distraction, you know how difficult it can be to perform the simplest tasks when there are other things pulling at your attention. Multitasking is like a full body workout for your brain.
www.shapeupamerica.com

HOPE IN THE MIDST OF DISPAIR.

Nigeria is among the 20 poorest nations in the world, as almost 66% of Nigerians live below the poverty line of one US dollar a day. Nigeria, a country of over 133 million people, has experienced severe hardship since the decline of the oil boom. The large scale unemployment and the desperation for survival among the populace have led to numerous vices. Despite huge resources and efforts directed at restoring progressive social norms, Nigeria is acclaimed to be the second most corrupt nation in the world. These factors and many others have affected the country’s overall prosperity, with a weakening currency and high inflation. Unemployment rates and poverty levels drastically worsen by the day. For the average Nigerian, diverse problems create a hopeless state of economic uncertainty. Companies are forced to downsize and retire their staff early. Plundering of the nation’s scarce resources and high capital flight to foreign banks continue to make our country an enigma before patriots of other nations, despite the war against corruption being waged by the federal government. Bringing it to the individual level, Nigerians, especially students, now have limited control over their destiny. Citizens in employment realize that, though they do not have any spare time for other important things in their lives, they are overworked and underpaid. Debts, bills and medical costs rob families of financial resources. Our purchasing power has fallen more than 14,000% since the time the Naira was at par with the dollar in the 70’s. From the above analysis, it is obvious that the entire situation in the country offers no bright future for the working class and the youth. The youths in general are pummeled with various criminal options calling for their attention, such as advanced fee fraud (419), internet fraud, etc. Many have lost their sense of destiny and are left in a state of utter despondency. As a result, the mindset of the youth can be depicted in the French saying ‘Que sera sera’ meaning ‘What will be, will be.’ There is no drive to excel, as many look for better opportunities outside Nigerian shores. Is there a way out of this hopeless situation? Can we wriggle out of this confusing state we find ourselves in? Is there any solution or have we gone beyond the state of redemption? Can anyone still find the drive within to succeed? Where can we find these answers? Do we wait for the government or can we find them within ourselves? Surely there is hope in the midst of despair.
These answers lie within you! They are in your mind. Whatever goals and dreams you can envision in your mind will materialize in your life. Think about that for a minute! Whatever you focus your mind and energies on will manifest itself into reality. You should learn to conceptualize your dreams, this way they will soon become real. Just like an artistic concept waiting to be created by the artist, so are your dreams waiting to materialize. It is time to brace yourself and redirect your focus from the dismal situation of the country.

DETERMINATION COMES WHEN YOU FIND YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE

In life, we often let our dreams go down the drian because of the huddles we have to cross in achieving them. this is a story of a man that so inspired me. its a story on determination.

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so.""Crazy men and their crazy dreams.""It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.
Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.
Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.