2. The box of familiar actions – I’m safe if I don’t try anything-new box. Our actions can either open new doorways for us or keep us in same groove we are familiar with. Someone described his experience of this lately. He said that it is like going down a dead-end street and then having to turn around and come back again over and over again– wasting a whole lot of energy and time in process. After doing this a number of times people often give up. Seeing and acting outside of box can allow you a different perspective from which to connect dots.

3. The box of blame – I have no power box. Many people insist on blaming their circumstances, financial markets, their spouse, dog or anyone else for situation they are in. Until you can recognize and identify ways you are perpetuating this box and take responsibility it is very difficult to make real progress. Granted externals have an impact but recognizing how you create a box out of circumstances allows you power and energy to begin moving out of it.

4. The box of negative expectation – I know that same thing is going to happen box. When faced with something you don’t know notice if you expect either something negative to happen or expect that what you have experienced before will repeat itself. Many people use this as a way to move away from their fear of change and keep status quo in place. They would rather stay with known pain than risk something new. The unknown I am talking about has all possibility in it – if we project our negative or limiting expectations on it there is no room for anything new. Imagine what would happen if this box didn’t hold you!

What are your favorite boxes and what might happen in your personal or professional life if you were guided out of those boxes? Often it is hard for us to do it alone. Sometimes we can’t even identify where we are stuck without a fresh set of very interested eyes. Coaching can offer you that new vantage point, that broader view and support and tools needed to move outside your BOX.

Learning Concepts: Making Ideas Your Own

Our ideas help facilitate learning and memorization as well. If you find yourself struggling to memorizing facts, figures or diagrams for a presentation, exam, or speech, try to completely understand inner workings first.

Take Ownership

So that means you need to take ownership – identify with idea. Make idea your own in some way and you'll be more likely to memorize it, after all, we always seem to remember what we can explain.

Perhaps you can try to:

1. Create personal associations with idea and its uses. How have I experienced this in my every day life?

2. Envision each step and process from beginning to end. How will idea work? How will you use it?

3. Begin thinking of idea from different angles. What if you changed it in some way? Will this tweak make it more memorable? You'll absorb more, learn quicker, and improve your memory. As a side benefit, you might even become more confident with your knowledge base and even persuade people.

Give it a try. How are you more effective?

======================== © Copyright 2004, Ronnie Nijmeh, ACQYR.com. The ACQYR team provides masses with witty yet strategic ideas leading to self- improvement and growth. For more information and exciting, fresh motivational articles, visit: http://www.acqyr.com Live. Learn. ACQYR.